Author: openjargon

Light & Wonder vs Aristocrat Leisure shares: which gaming giant is better?

When it comes to the world of gaming technology, both Light & Wonder (ASX: LNW) and Aristocrat Leisure Ltd (ASX: ALL) are heavyweights that regularly come up in discussions among keen Aussie investors. If you’re tossing up between these two innovative consumer discretionary companies, this side-by-side look at their fundamentals, performance, and outlook should help you decide which could be the smarter buy today.

The case for Light & Wonder

Light & Wonder, based in Las Vegas, develops and supplies technology-based gaming products and services to casinos and digital platforms. The company operates through three key segments: Gaming (physical machines and platforms for casinos), SciPlay (digital games for mobile and web), and iGaming (real-money online gaming and sports wagering solutions). According to its most recent public description, Light & Wonder draws on decades of experience to deliver content and platforms across both land-based and digital gaming.

Looking at the latest numbers, Light & Wonder currently has a market cap of $9.53 billion, making it a significant player but still notably smaller than Aristocrat. Its price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio stands at 25.88, and its earnings per share (EPS) is $3.40. Interestingly, the company doesn’t currently pay a dividend, so it’s more a growth-focused pick. Its year-to-date (YTD) return sits at –21.93%, so 2026 has been tough for LNW holders so far.

The case for Aristocrat Leisure

Aristocrat Leisure is one of Australia’s best-known global gaming companies, with operations in around 100 countries and licences in more than 340 gaming jurisdictions. The group divides its business into three arms: its core gaming technology (slot machines and casino systems), Aristocrat Interactive (real-money digital gaming), and Product Madness, which creates highly popular free-to-play mobile games. Though its roots are in land-based pokies, Aristocrat has pushed hard into the digital and US markets, and according to its most recent company profile, is now a true global player.

On the numbers, Aristocrat is a giant with a market cap of $36.72 billion. Its P/E ratio is virtually identical to Light & Wonder at 25.90. Notably, Aristocrat does pay a dividend, with a yield of 1.61% and a current dividend per share of $0.99. Unlike Light & Wonder, it’s delivered a positive YTD return of 6.57%, showing resilience in the recent market.

Valuation comparison

Here’s how the key numbers stack up:

Metric	Light & Wonder	Aristocrat Leisure
Market Cap	$9.53 billion	$36.72 billion
P/E Ratio	25.88	25.90
Dividend Yield	0.00%	1.61%
Earnings per share	$3.400	$2.374
YTD Return	-21.93%	6.57%

While both trade on almost identical P/E ratios, Aristocrat is much larger, is paying a dividend, and has delivered a positive YTD return.

Recent share price performance

Let’s look at the recent share price trends, comparing share price performance from 18 August 2026 to 16 September 2026.

• Light & Wonder closed at $133.25 on 18 August 2026 and finished at $123.68 on 16 September 2026, representing a decline of around 7.2% over the period.
• Aristocrat Leisure closed at $63.41 on 18 August 2026 and at $61.50 on 16 September 2026, a fall of approximately 3% over the same stretch.

In other words, both shares have slipped over this four-week snapshot, but Light & Wonder’s decline has been noticeably steeper.

Which is the better buy?

Based on the most recent data, my pick between these two is clear: I’d lean toward Aristocrat Leisure. Here’s why. Both companies are tech-savvy gaming leaders, but Aristocrat is steadier and offers shareholders a dividend stream. The company’s positive YTD return of 6.57% versus Light & Wonder’s –21.93% signals underlying strength. Both trade on similar P/E multiples, so Aristocrat doesn’t look overpriced versus its smaller rival. Light & Wonder may still offer growth potential down the track, but based on current momentum and yield, Aristocrat looks the more compelling buy today.

The post Light & Wonder vs Aristocrat Leisure: Which gaming share wins? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• UBS names its 10 top ASX picks for the next 3-6 months
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• Ainsworth Game Technology posts lower H1 FY26 profit and revenue

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 Light & Wonder Inc. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Light & Wonder Inc. 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.

Fast-food operators are likely to face some headwinds over the coming year, broking house Morgans says, but there is still room for savvy operators to grow.

Share price gains still on the table

Morgans has named two companies as their top picks in the sector, with share price targets that imply solid gains for investors.

But the broking house warns that the consumer outlook is continuing to weaken, with interest rate rises at the centre of that theme.

Morgans said:

The RBA is back at 4.35% after three rises this year and looks set to hike again in late September. Consumer sentiment has dropped to 84.4, below neutral and weaker than a year ago, with real incomes still going backwards. We expect FY27 to be a tougher year for the consumer than FY26.

The broker said that for fast-food operators, growth has to come from increased sales, not price, “because a household absorbing a fourth rate rise will likely trade down or out if prices rise further again”.

They added:

Operators that lift revenue without leaning on price can hold margins as the cost base inflates, while those still taking price to cover soft comps risk losing volume. The sustainable way to hold margin is to grow the top line on traffic, attach and mix behind a value proposition strong enough that customers keep coming without price cuts.

Broker names its two picks

Morgans’ top pick in the sector is Guzman Y Gomez Ltd (ASX: GYG), with a price target of $31 against $25.04 at the time of writing.

They said:

It is the highest-quality operator in our coverage, with strong unit economics and ambitious but achievable FY30 targets. It took the least price and still grew same store sales 5.3%, almost all on traffic, and its fresh, protein-led menu aligns best with consumer trends. Management has commenced the buy back and, given its strict capital allocation and ROI hurdles, we view this as a clear demonstration of where it sees value. The next catalyst is the quarterly trading update in October.

Second in line is Collins Foods Ltd (ASX: CKF), with Morgans having a price target of $10.60 against $7.93 at the time of writing.

Morgans said re Collins Foods:

In our view, CKF screens cheap and holds a strong value proposition, given KFC’s well placed value menu in a tough consumer environment. Kwench and daypart expansion into late-night and breakfast add further opportunity to attach and increase traffic. The growth opportunity in Germany is not priced in by the market, and we see the midpoint of its store opening target (45-90 by FY30, without acquisitions) as achievable.

Morgans has a hold rating on Domino’s Pizza Enterprises Ltd (ASX: DMP) with a price target of $20 compared to $19.45 at the time of writing.

The post These 2 ASX fast food companies could jump 23% to 33% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 positions in and has recommended Domino’s Pizza Enterprises. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Collins Foods and Domino’s Pizza Enterprises. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA), and CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) are three of the biggest shares on the ASX.

I think all three have strong long-term investment cases, although for quite different reasons.

Here is why I would be happy to buy each of them today.

BHP shares

BHP would be my pick for long-term exposure to the resources sector.

The company already owns some of the world’s largest mining operations, giving it a strong base from which to keep investing.

Iron ore remains an important source of cash flow, but I am particularly interested in where BHP’s copper business could be heading.

Copper will be needed for electricity networks, renewable energy infrastructure, electric vehicles, data centres, and many other areas likely to attract significant investment over the coming decade.

Bringing new copper supply online can also take many years. BHP already owns major assets and has the financial strength to continue investing, while weaker competitors may struggle.

Commodity prices can be volatile, so earnings will never be perfectly smooth. But I think BHP’s scale and portfolio of long-life assets make it one of the ASX miners I would be most comfortable owning for years.

CBA shares

CBA is my preferred major Australian bank.

The company has built extremely strong customer relationships across home lending, deposits, business banking, and everyday financial services.

I also think its technology gives it an important advantage. The CommBank app has become central to how many customers manage their finances, making it easier for CBA to deepen those relationships and offer additional products.

That does not mean the bank will suddenly become a rapid-growth company. Australian banking is highly competitive, and CBA regularly trades at a premium valuation.

But I think the quality of the business can justify paying more than I would for some of its rivals.

Add in the potential for fully-franked dividends, and I think CBA can offer investors a strong combination of income and capital growth.

CSL shares

CSL gives me a completely different opportunity.

The healthcare giant has been through a difficult period, but I think the earnings outlook is improving.

CSL has major positions in plasma therapies, vaccines, and specialist medicines, backed by a global collection network and operations that would be extremely difficult to replicate.

The business also has opportunities to improve margins as productivity increases and some of the pressures that weighed on recent results ease.

CSL shares have already recovered substantially from their lows, so the bargain available earlier this year has been missed. Even so, I still think the valuation leaves room for worthwhile returns if earnings continue growing over the next few years.

Foolish takeaway

Yes, I think BHP, CBA, and CSL shares are all top buys today.

BHP gives me exposure to resources that should remain important for decades, CBA is the Australian bank I would most want to own, and CSL still has room to rebuild earnings after a difficult period.

I would be comfortable buying any of the three and giving the investment plenty of time to develop.

The post Are BHP, CBA, and CSL shares top buys? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

I’m sure plenty of Australians would love the idea of earning $75,000 a year in passive income and being able to retire at 45. I believe investing in ASX shares could be the best way to achieve that goal.

Some Aussies may love to work, while others may want to spend more time with loved ones, travelling or whatever else they want to do.

There are a variety of appealing reasons why reaching $75,000 of annual passive income could be compelling.

Let’s look at how we can unlock those targeted goals.

The power of compounding

Every investor who wants to retire early should view compounding as one of their closest financial friends.

Albert Einstein once supposedly said:

Compound interest is the eighth wonder of the world. He who understands it, earns it; he who doesn’t, pays it.

Compounding can help us benefit from investments that are growing on their own, over multiple years. When interest earns interest, investors can see their dollars grow into a much larger figure. Those investments are growing all by themselves, rather than requiring additional funding from our own finances.

To show how positively compounding can help Australians grow wealthier, I’m going to run through two potential examples.

Imagine someone who is 20 years old right now and manages to set aside $1,000 each month to invest in ASX shares. That implies an annual investment total of $12,000. Assuming the portfolio returns an average of 10% per year – which the share market has done over the long-term – it would grow into a value of $1.18 million after 25 years.

Turning to another example, let’s think about someone who starts five years later at 25. Hopefully that person would be able to earn more and save more. Let’s say they can invest $1,500 per month. If the portfolio also returned an average of 10% per year, it would grow to $1.03 million after 20 years.

Which ASX shares Aussies could buy for passive income to retire

If I use the two example portfolios above, a $1.18 million portfolio would require a dividend yield of 6.3% to make $75,000 of annual passive income. Meanwhile, a $1.03 million portfolio would require a dividend yield of 7.3%.

Those are certainly high dividend yields to target for income. It may be wise to consider building up the portfolio a bit further (for even just a year or two) before retiring, as that would allow investors to target a wider variety of investments.

If I were targeting dividend yields of more than 6%, or even above 7%, I would want to acknowledge that higher yields can come with a higher risk of being reduced.

But, there are a few names I’d include.

For portfolio average dividend yield that’s in the 6.3% or so range, I’d look at names like Medibank Private Ltd (ASX: MPL), PM Capital Global Opportunities Fund Ltd (ASX: PGF), Dexus Industria REIT (ASX: DXI) and MFF Capital Investments Ltd (ASX: MFF).

Some of the names I’d consider thinking of that yield at least 7% or better include Future Generation Australia Ltd (ASX: FGX), Future Generation Global Ltd (ASX: FGG), Hearts and Minds Investments Ltd (ASX: HM1), WCM Global Growth Ltd (ASX: WQG) and Charter Hall Long WALE REIT (ASX: CLW).

I believe investors seeking to retire with $75,000 in annual passive income would be well served by the above stocks, as well as other ASX shares that could deliver strong growth.

The post How much do I need to retire on $75,000 a year at 45? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in Future Generation Australia, Future Generation Global, Hearts And Minds Investments, Mff Capital Investments, and Wcm Global Growth. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Mff Capital Investments. 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) ended the trading week on a somewhat sour note this Friday. After what has been a mostly positive week for ASX shares, investors couldn’t quite stick the landing today. Despite a strong open this morning, the ASX 200 ended up losing 0.014% by the time the markets wrapped up trading. That leaves the index at 8,731.2 points as we head into the weekend.

This middling end to the Australian trading week followed a far more optimistic night up on the American markets.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) staged a decisive bounce-back, rising 0.61%.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) did even better, gaining a healthy 1.69%.

But let’s get back to the local markets now and examine how the different ASX sectors fared amid today’s indecisive trading conditions.

Winners and losers

There were a few winners to balance out the red sectors this Friday.

But first, to the losers.

Leading the pessimistic sectors this session were real estate investment trusts (REITs). The S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ) copped some displeasure, tanking 1.31%.

Energy shares were also on the nose, with the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) plunging 1.1%.

Consumer staples stocks were no safe haven. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) cratered by 1.04% this session.

We could say the same for communications shares, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ)’s 0.77% retreat.

Financial stocks weren’t finding many buyers. The S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) gave back 0.59%.

Consumer discretionary shares were just ahead of that, with the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) diving 0.54%.

Healthcare stocks weren’t feeling the love. The S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ) ended up sliding 0.36% lower.

Our last losers this Friday were industrial shares, as you can see from the S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ)’s 0.16% slip.

Turning to the winners now, it was gold stocks that shone the brightest. The All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) soared 3.9% higher this session.

Broader mining shares ran hot too, with the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) roaring 1.6% higher.

Tech stocks got some love as well. The S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) added 0.73% to its total today.

Finally, utilities shares got over the line, evident from the S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ)’s 0.14% bump.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

Healthcare stock 4DMedical Ltd (ASX: 4DX) was our best performer this Friday. 4DMedical shares rocketed 13.42% this session to close the week at $4.31 each.

We dove into what might have caused this rally this afternoon.

Here’s the rest of today’s best:

ASX-listed company	Share price	Price change
4DMedical Ltd (ASX: 4DX)	$4.31	13.42%
Develop Global Ltd (ASX: DVP)	$5.29	11.84%
IperionX Ltd (ASX: IPX)	$3.00	10.29%
Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1)	$18.54	7.60%
PDI Gold Ltd (ASX: PDI)	$4.91	7.51%
Ora Banda Mining Ltd (ASX: OBM)	$1.53	7.37%
Greatland Resources Ltd (ASX: GGP)	$11.05	5.54%
Vault Minerals Ltd (ASX: VAU)	$6.34	5.49%
Genesis Minerals Ltd (ASX: GMD)	$7.60	5.26%
Monadelphous Group Ltd (ASX: MND)	$30.62	5.22%

Enjoy the weekend!

Our top 10 shares countdown is a recurring end-of-day summary that shows which companies made big moves on the day. Check in at Fool.com.au after the weekday market closes to see which stocks make the countdown.

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

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Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen 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 Megaport. 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.

Investing in managed funds isn’t as popular on the ASX as it used to be. However, despite the rise of rival products, mainly exchange-traded funds (ETFs), managed funds are still a popular avenue for Australian passive investors.

If you weren’t aware, a managed fund is an unlisted investment. Unlike a share, ETF, or listed investment company (LIC), an investor doesn’t typically buy shares or units of a managed fund on the ASX. Instead, they buy and sell units directly from the fund manager itself. The assets themselves are held in a trust and are managed on behalf of the owners by the fund manager. Because of this structure, managed funds tend to charge higher fees than other passive investment vehicles.

One can find managed funds to invest in almost anything one can think of. In Australia, there are managed funds that cover international shares, bonds, infrastructure, cryptocurrencies, precious metals, real estate, and, of course, ASX shares themselves.

I’ve observed the performance of the top managed funds in Australia for many years and have even invested in a few of them. I wish I knew a very important thing when I did make that first investment.

The events of last week involving Bennelong Funds Management brought this back to the front of my attention. Bennelong was one of the ASX’s most successful fund managers for many years, attracting large sums of funds under management. However, its performance has had a couple of rough years. When this happens, it often results in an exodus of funds, placing even more pressure on its managers. You can ask the folks over at Magellan Financial Group Ltd (ASX: MFG) all about that. This week, it was revealed that Bennelong has been sold to Antipodes Partners.

Managed funds and ETFs on the ASX

Over my years of observing funds like Bennelong, I have noticed a pattern. The ASX always has a fund manager of the moment. A manager that hits impressive performance figures for a few years, drawing plenty of attention and extra dollars. Investors wonder how they did it, and whether they should invest. Years ago, it was Magellan and Bennelong. Today, it could be the high-flyers at L1 Group Ltd (ASX: L1G).

This can last for one, three, or even five years. However, what I have observed over a long period of time is that very few fund managers enjoy more than a year or two in the sun. Most simply cannot match or beat the index over long periods of time, especially enough to offset the fees that they charge.

I wish I knew this when I first started investing in ASX shares. If I did, I would have put more money in ultra-cheap index funds, like the Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS) or the iShares S&P 500 ETF (ASX: IVV). These funds charge minuscule management fees, and yet tend to beat out the managed funds that play in the same space that they do. There are exceptions. But finding those is a hard business. And there’s never a guarantee that past performance continues into the future.

As such, I think the vast majority of ASX investors would be better off sticking to these kinds of funds than experimenting with managed funds, LICs, or actively managed ETFs.

The post Do you invest in ASX managed funds? Here’s something I wish I knew 10 years ago appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has positions in Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF. 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.

Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX: MIN) shares have been hit pretty hard this week, and Friday hasn’t brought much relief.

The stock is down another 1.04% to $53.54 in afternoon trade.

That takes its decline to around 12.6% over the past 5 sessions and more than 20% down in a month.

Interestingly, there hasn’t been a major company announcement this week to explain the selling.

So, what exactly is going on?

Lithium prices are sliding again

The first place I’d look is the lithium market, which has had a rough few weeks.

According to Trading Economics, lithium carbonate is currently trading around 134,300 yuan per tonne.

That leaves the commodity down more than 12% over the past month after a strong run through the first-half of 2026.

And Mineral Resources isn’t the only lithium stock being sold off.

PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS) shares are down 17.58% over the past month, while Liontown Resources Ltd(ASX: LTR) has fallen 21.35%.

Mineral Resources has plenty riding on lithium as well.

The segment generated $771 million of underlying EBITDA in FY26, helped by record sales volumes and higher prices.

What’s been hitting lithium?

A couple of developments out of China have knocked lithium prices around this month.

Earlier in September, Shanghai Metals Market changed the way it measures lithium carbonate inventories.

The survey now includes more traders, battery manufacturers and other holders than it did previously.

That quickly pushed reported inventories higher.

However, much of the increase came from the expanded survey itself.

Reuters also reported last week that China had temporarily paused approvals for new battery energy storage manufacturing projects.

The sector is now being reviewed before new projects are allowed to move ahead.

What about iron ore?

Iron ore doesn’t look like the reason Mineral Resources shares have been falling this week.

At the time of writing, iron ore is trading around US$97.42 per tonne.

That’s actually up around 2.3% over the past month, although the commodity is still 7.4% lower than a year ago.

And iron ore is now a huge part of the Mineral Resources business.

The division generated $1 billion of underlying EBITDA in FY26, making it the company’s biggest earnings contributor.

A large chunk of that came from Onslow Iron, which contributed $909 million after ramping up production during the year.

Mineral Resources is guiding for attributable iron ore sales of 20 million to 21.7 million tonnes in FY27.

The post Why has the Mineral Resources share price fallen 12% this week? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 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.

A CMC survey of more than 8,500 investors and traders has identified the four most popular ASX exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

The survey showed ASX shares investors are still buying despite today’s economic uncertainty and trading volatility.

The most common way people are adding to their portfolios is via ETFs, the survey found.

About 48% of respondents have raised their investment in ETFs compared to 38% for ASX shares and 21% for US stocks.

Investors felt the most confidence in ETFs when considering which asset classes would perform best over the next six months.

About 29% said they expected ETFs to do best, followed by US shares at 21%, global shares at 16%, ASX shares at 16%, and commodities at 14%.

Fraser Allan, Head of Premium Client Management at CMC, said index investing “has become the default”.

When investors and traders are uncertain, they’re not going to cash and they’re not stock-picking their way out of it.

They’re buying the market and getting diversified exposure to local and international markets through a handful of very large, very liquid ETFs.

CMC Invest’s 2026 H1 Inside Invest Report found four ASX ETFs account for about 75% of the top 10 orders placed by CMC clients.

Big 4 ASX exchange-traded funds

According to CMC, the most popular ETFs among its clients are as follows.

1. iShares S&P 500 ETF (ASX: IVV)

IVV ETF tracks the American benchmark index, the S&P 500 Index (SP: INX).

The S&P 500 has substantially outperformed the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) over the past three years.

In fact, in FY26, US stocks delivered 3 times the total return of ASX 200 shares at 22% versus 7%.

Experts say the performance gap is attributable to the artificial intelligence (AI) investment boom led by the US.

IVV provides exposure to the AI ‘hyperscalers’, Meta Platforms, Amazon, Alphabet, and Microsoft shares.

The buy:sell split among CMC client orders in 1H FY26 was 94% to 6%.

IVV ETF has risen 5% in the calendar year to date (YTD).

2. Vanguard Msci Index International Shares ETF (ASX: VGS)

VGS ETF tracks the MSCI World ex-Australia (with net dividends reinvested) in Australian dollars Index.

This ASX ETF provides exposure to 1,300 international shares with an almost 80% leaning to the US market.

The buy:sell split among CMC client orders in 1H FY26 was 96% to 4%.

VGS ETF has increased 4% in the YTD.

3. Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS)

VAS ETF tracks the S&P/ASX 300 Index (ASX: XKO), providing exposure to Australia’s 300 largest listed companies.

They include BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA), and Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES).

The buy:sell split among CMC client orders in 1H FY26 was 93% to 7%.

VAS ETF has risen 1% in the YTD.

4. BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ)

NDQ ETF tracks the tech-heavy NASDAQ-100 Index (NASDAQ: NDX).

The buy:sell split among CMC client orders in 1H FY26 was 92% to 8%.

NDQ ETF has lifted 7% in the YTD.

The post 4 most popular ASX ETFs revealed: survey appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has positions in Vanguard Msci Index International Shares ETF. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Alphabet, Amazon, BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Wesfarmers, 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 Alphabet, Amazon, BHP Group, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, 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.

Santos vs Woodside shares: which is better value today?

Oil and gas shares like Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) and Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) are among the ASX’s most widely held energy stocks. With energy prices in focus and both companies riding strong year-to-date gains, it’s fair for investors to wonder: between Santos and Woodside, which share offers better value right now? Here’s how they stack up for both growth and income.

The case for Santos

Santos is a leading independent oil and gas producer spanning Australia, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste and Alaska. The company has deep Australian roots and, as of its company profile, boasts one of the largest exploration and production acreages in Australia. Santos supplies natural gas domestically and to Asian markets, and is building towards significant projects like PNG LNG and Barossa LNG.

Looking at the numbers, Santos currently trades with a market cap of $27.83 billion and a P/E ratio of 27.69. It pays a dividend yield of 3.52%, though its dividends are currently unfranked. Earnings per share sit at $0.225, and the company has delivered a very robust year-to-date return of 46.48%. Notably, Santos’ dividend payout has generally increased over the years, but franking has diminished — none of the recent dividends have carried franking credits.

The case for Woodside

Woodside Energy Group is the largest independent Australian oil and gas operator, with extensive offshore production facilities and international assets. Its position was recently strengthened through a merger with BHP’s oil and gas portfolio, as flagged in its most recent public description. With a long history and global ambition, Woodside remains a heavyweight among ASX energy companies.

Fundamentally, Woodside stands out. Its P/E ratio is 14.79, noticeably lower than Santos, suggesting the market is pricing it more cheaply relative to earnings. Woodside delivers a dividend yield of 4.90%, with dividends fully franked. Its EPS is a much stronger $1.605, and the year-to-date return clocks in at 47.94%. Unlike Santos, all Woodside dividends in recent years have been fully franked, a likely appeal for income investors.

Valuation comparison

Here’s a direct head-to-head on key metrics:

	Santos	Woodside
Market Cap	$27.83 billion	$62.70 billion
P/E Ratio	27.69	14.79
Dividend Yield	3.52%	4.90%
Dividend Franking	Unfranked	100% Franked
Earnings per Share	$0.225	$1.605
Year to Date Return	46.48%	47.94%

Woodside is much larger and offers both a higher and fully franked dividend yield, with a lower P/E and stronger per-share earnings. Santos is priced at a higher earnings multiple and doesn’t offer franking at present.

Recent share price performance

The two shares have tracked similar momentum recently. Over the past fortnight, Santos’ share price rose from $8.31 (2 Sep) to $8.57 (17 Sep), despite some ups and downs — an overall increase of roughly 3%.

Woodside’s share price moved from $33.08 (2 Sep) to $32.98 (17 Sep), showing little net change but with more pronounced swings, including both rallies and dips.

Both shares have delivered impressive year-to-date gains (Santos: 46.48%, Woodside: 47.94%), but in this recent fortnight, Santos has slightly edged up while Woodside has been broadly steady.

Which is the better buy?

Both companies are proven performers in the oil and gas space and have posted strong year-to-date returns. But when it comes to value today, my pick would be Woodside. The reasons are clear: it trades on a far lower P/E (14.79 vs 27.69), offers a higher and fully franked dividend yield (4.90%), and boasts much stronger earnings per share. If income matters — especially for Australian retirees after franking credits — Woodside’s 100% franking is a real drawcard. Santos, while delivering credible growth and momentum, simply doesn’t match Woodside’s combination of earnings power and franked dividends.

Both stocks have upside in an energy-hungry world, but based on the fundamentals and income appeal in front of me, I’d lean to Woodside as better value today.

The post Santos vs Woodside: Which ASX energy share is better value? 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 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.

Owning Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) shares has seen its fair share of volatility in the last few years.

I think the ASX energy share could be one to investigate following all of the uncertainty amid the Middle East conflict.

Woodside is one of the largest oil and gas businesses on the ASX, so what happens with the energy prices has a big impact on its earnings.

We’re going to look at what analysts are predicting with Woodside earnings in the next few years, which could give insights as to whether the Woodside share price is undervalued or not.

FY26

We’re about three quarters of the way through the Woodside 2026 financial year, as its financial year follows the calendar year.

The company has already reported how it performed in the first half of FY26.

Woodside revealed that operating revenue grew 13% to US$7.4 billion, underlying net profit after tax (NPAT) grew 7% to $1.3 billion, and free cash flow surged 159% to $352 million.

The numbers were driven by a 20% rise in the average realised price to US$74 per barrel of oil equivalent (BOE). That helped offset a 13% reduction in total production volume to 86.5 million barrels of oil equivalent.

One of the biggest future drivers of future earnings may be the completion of the various projects it’s working on. In the FY26 half-year result, it reported that Scarborough was 98% complete, Trion was 64% complete, and Louisiana LNG was 28% complete.

As those projects come online, development spending will finish, and the earnings can start flowing, which will be felt in future years.

According to the projection on CommSec, the business is forecast to see earnings per share (EPS) of $2.184. That means it’s now valued at 15 times FY26’s estimated earnings.

FY27

The ASX energy share could see earnings increase in the 2027 financial year, which would be music to investors’ ears.

Its performance in FY27 could be dependent on whether normal energy flows out of the Middle East resume. There doesn’t seem to be an end in sight at this stage.

As I mentioned above, completed projects could be a boost for earnings in FY27 and beyond.

EPS is projected to rise by 21.3% to $2.649, implying it’s valued at 12 times FY27’s estimated earnings.

FY28

You’d hope that by 2028, the Middle East situation will have been resolved for some time. If it is, energy prices could be lower – that’d be good for virtually all Australians, but a headwind for Woodside’s earnings.

Energy prices will probably have a sizeable impact on the FY28 result, whatever is happening in that year.

According to the forecast on CommSec, Woodside’s EPS could decline by 5% to $2.52. That suggests the Woodside share price is valued at 13 times FY28’s estimated earnings.

Is the Woodside share price a buy?

With those future earnings in mind, let’s take a look at what experts think of the business.

According to CommSec’s collation of analyst opinions, there are currently six buy ratings, eight hold ratings, and three sell ratings on the business. That’s a bit of a mixed bag.

I try to invest in cyclical stocks (such as energy) when prices are low rather than high, as is the case now. Therefore, I’d look at other ASX share opportunities first.

The post Here’s the earnings forecast out to 2028 for Woodside shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Santos vs Woodside: Which ASX energy share is better value?
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Friday
• Woodside Energy vs Fortescue: Which ASX mining share is best for passive income?
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday
• Woodside shares up 38% in 2026: Here’s what brokers tip next

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.