Author: openjargon

There are certain ASX passive income shares that I’ll highlight in this article as excellent ideas for dividends to help generate good payments.

Some businesses have already provided guidance for the upcoming financial results that show a good dividend yield based on the appealing expectations.

Below are two of the higher-yielding ideas I like a lot.

Future Generation Global Ltd (ASX: FGG)

This idea is a listed investment company (LIC) which is an excellent source of passive income.

Future Generation Global aims to provide a reliable stream of income, which has regularly increased each year since FY19. For FY26, the business has provided guidance that it will increase its annual dividend per share by 5% to 8.4 cents per share.

That forecast translates into a forward grossed-up dividend yield of 7.3%, including franking credits, at the time of writing. I’m assuming no dividend growth from the ASX passive income share in FY27 for this article, but I do think there’s likely to be a dividend hike in 2027.

It pays for those dividends from the investment returns of its portfolio. It’s invested in a portfolio of 15 funds from fund managers focused on international shares. All of those fund managers work for free so that Future Generation Global can donate 1% of its net assets to charities focused on youth mental health.

There are more than 3,700 underlying shares across different markets and sectors, so it can offer Australians significant diversification.

Dexus Industria REIT (ASX: DXI)

This ASX passive income share is a leading real estate investment trust (REIT), in my view, due to the exposure that the portfolio provides.

It’s invested in a portfolio of industrial real estate across Australian cities. It has a diversified tenant base across the sectors of wholesale trade, construction, manufacturing, retail trade, logistics and more.  

The business says that it has ‘3%+’ embedded rental growth, with approximately 87% linked to fixed rental increases, with “strong inflation protection”. This can help protect and grow rental earnings amid higher interest rates.

With a 99% occupancy rate and a five-year weighted average lease expiry (WALE), the business has strong rental characteristics that can help fund good distributions.

It expects to pay a distribution per unit of 16.6 cents, which translates into a distribution yield of close to 6.9%.

$700 per month from ASX passive income shares

Neither of these ASX passive income shares pays dividends monthly, so we’re going to look at this as an annual goal, which can then be divided into monthly income. Receiving $700 per month is equivalent to $8,400 annually.

Between them, these two names have an average dividend yield of 7.1%. Receiving $8,400 per year at a dividend yield of 7.1% would require a total investment of approximately $118,300.

By investing in these two ASX passive income shares, along with other names for diversification, I think investors can build a solid level of income.

The post 2 ASX passive income ideas I’d use to generate $700 a month in 2027 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 2 ASX dividend shares with yields above 7%
• 3 ASX dividend shares raising dividends like clockwork
• How much is needed in superannuation to target a $2,500 monthly passive income?
• How much do I need to retire on $120,000 a year at 55?
• Future Generation Global earnings: Profit and revenue drop, dividend rises

Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in Future Generation Global. 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.

Shares in Web Travel Group Ltd (ASX: WEB) have made a strong recovery in recent months but remain more than 10% down over the past 12 months.

The analysts at UBS believe the recovery is set to continue, however, and they have just upgraded their price target on the company, which I’ll get to shortly.

Trading update solidly positive

First, let’s have a look at the company’s recent announcements about how the business is travelling.

In late August, Web Travel Group upgraded its guidance, now expecting first-half FY27 revenue to be up 14% to 16%, compared to previous guidance of 11% to 15%.

The company said it also expected its margins to be at least 6.7%, up from 6.5% for the same period last year.

And on the earnings front, the company expected underlying EBITDA to be $85 to $89 million, up from previous guidance of $80 to $86 million.

Web Travel Group Chief Executive John Guscic said of the changes:

The decision to upgrade guidance is due to the increased velocity of bookings and improved margins in trading. The Americas continues to see extremely strong growth. The performance of Europe, MEA and APAC have improved in the second quarter. 1H27 is on track to be the third consecutive 6-month period where TTV margins have improved over the prior corresponding period. The demonstrable operating leverage is a direct result of the optimisation initiatives and investments we made in FY26 that are delivering earlier than expected.

Shares looking like a good buy at these levels

UBS said Web Travel Group’s new strategy appeared to be paying off.

They added:

In our view, the strategy to further build WEB’s directly contracted hotel inventory (higher margin) is allowing WEB to continue to take share – whilst maintaining healthy net margins. Should the normal seasonal skew unfold, we see a further 5% upside to eanrings per share in FY27. Given 70% of costs are fixed, our analysis suggests WEB has also potentially implemented some cost initiatives. If WEB once again proves it can hold or improve margins at 1H27, we believe this should warrant a re-rate.

UBS said it was only factoring in $60 million of a potential $90 million in share buybacks into its valuation of the company.

UBS upgraded its price target on Web Travel Group from $4.60 to $4.85, compared to $3.71 at the time of writing.

If achieved, this would constitute a 30.7% return.

Web Travel Group is valued at $1.4 billion. The company is expected to release its first-half results on November 25.

The post This buy-rated ASX travel stock could deliver a 30% return: Broker appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Is AI about to kill company moats?
• A broker just put a sell rating on CBA shares. Is Australia’s biggest bank finally too expensive?
• Are these ASX tech stocks finally a buy again?
• 3 ASX shares just got big upgrades and are tipped to rise almost 30%
• 2 ASX passive income ideas I’d use to generate $700 a month in 2027

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.

Now could be the time to buy the ASX 200 stock in this article.

That’s because the team at Bell Potter has just reaffirmed its buy rating on the stock.

Which ASX 200 stock?

The stock that is getting attention from Bell Potter is agricultural chemicals company Nufarm Ltd (ASX: NUF).

Bell Potter points out that recent peer reporting highlights continued margin recovery and trade flows suggesting a solid level of inventory rebuild ahead of major selling windows. It said: 

Key highlights from reporting season include: (1) Average reported selling prices were down -2% YoY and volumes were down -2% YoY; and (2) Gross margins (where reported) were up +180bp YoY. Like recent quarters, peer results continue to imply FY26e is a year of margin recover (as lower inventory moves through COGS) more so than top line growth.

Sector trade flows demonstrated -were down -3% YoY in volume terms and were down -18% YoY in value terms in 3Q26. The YoY change in sell through was stronger than the refill in value terms, implying formulators have not restocked with expensive stock, noting the volatility in China actives in the quarter

It also highlights that omega-3 oil pricing indicators have been firm. The broker adds:

Pricing indicators for omega-3 oil have remained firm and at levels consistent with previous peak pricing levels. South American fishoil prices are up +70-180% from Mar’26 levels, with bulk fishoil (the product most comparable to NUF Omega-3 products) last trading at US$4,650-8,250/t.

Time to buy

According to the note, Bell Potter has retained its buy rating on the ASX 200 stock with an improved price target of $3.75 (from $3.60).

Based on its current share price of $3.29, this implies potential upside of 14% for investors over the next 12 months. A 1% dividend yield is also expected over the period.

Commenting on its buy recommendation, Bell Potter said:

Our Buy rating is unchanged. Trading trends continue to infer FY26e is a year where improved gross margin (on lower COGS) and cost out are the main driver of profit growth. The[re] is the potential for surprise is omega-3, where Peruvian fishoil stock is in short supply and pricing indicators are reaching levels consistent with previous peaks.

There are modest EBITDA changes (<-1%) largely reflecting FX mark-to market. Our target price lifts to $3.75ps (prev. $3.60ps) on model roll forward.

The post Bell Potter says this ASX 200 stock is a buy appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday

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.

Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME) shares may be the single best thing an ordinary Australian investor could have owned over the past decade.

The medical imaging software company was a modest small-cap in 2016.

It is now a business worth close to $18 billion.

The share price has fallen 39% over the past twelve months, however, this hasn’t seemed to have impacted the long-term picture much.

Here is exactly what $10,000 would have become.

The maths on Pro Medicus shares over a decade

Pro Medicus shares traded at roughly $5.00 a share through the second half of 2016.

A $10,000 investment would have bought around 2,000 shares.

Those shares closed on Tuesday at $173.15.

The initial investment is now worth approximately $346,000. That is a gain of close to 3,360% before dividends.

Speaking of, dividends improve the number again.

Pro Medicus has paid a fully franked dividend across the entire period.

To illustrate, the FY26 payout alone came to 69 cents per share.

Measured against the original $5.00 purchase price, that single year of income represents almost 14% of what the investor paid back in 2016.

What actually drove the returns

The business did the work, not the market.

Visage is the platform radiologists use to view, store and share medical images.

The platform wins long contracts with large North American hospital networks, and it keeps them.

Revenue has compounded relentlessly while margins widened as the company scaled.

That combination is rare anywhere on the ASX and close to non-existent in healthcare.

Inside the FY26 result

FY26 was another strong year by almost any measure.

Revenue rose 22.9% to $261.7 million and underlying EBIT climbed 24.4% to $196.1 million.

Underlying net profit after tax increased 24.1% to $144.7 million.

Reported net profit jumped 130.3% to $265.3 million.

The company signed ten new contracts worth more than $407 million, including a ten-year agreement with UC Health Colorado.

Six existing contracts were renewed on five-year terms at higher fees.

Cash and financial assets grew 19.7% to $252.3 million, and the balance sheet still carries no debt at all.

Chief executive Dr Sam Hupert was satisfied with how the year finished.

We were aiming for 30% increases in EBIT and NPAT, and we exceeded both on a constant currency basis.

Why Pro Medicus shares have fallen 40% anyway

None of that stopped the share price falling hard.

Pro Medicus shares have dropped from a 52-week high of $321.57 to $173.15. The stock still trades on a price-to-earnings ratio of roughly 67.

That is a high multiple, and it leaves no room for a slower quarter of contract announcements.

Anyone who bought at the high is down more than 45%, which shows how important timing can be.

The valuation question facing new buyers

Buying a wonderful business at any price is not a strategy.

Pro Medicus needs to keep growing near 25% a year to justify what the market pays for it.

The addressable market in North American radiology is large, though it is not infinite.

Competition from larger imaging vendors is there, and contract timing is lumpy by nature.

Foolish takeaway

A $10,000 parcel bought a decade ago is worth around $346,000 today, not including dividends, which is a life-changing outcome from a very ordinary sum of money.

The lesson is not that Pro Medicus shares were an obvious buy in 2016, because they were nothing of the sort.

I would not chase the stock at 67 times earnings today.

But I would also not sell away a decade of compounding simply because the share price has had a difficult twelve months.

The post How much would $10,000 invested 10 years ago in Pro Medicus shares be worth today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Want to invest in AI shares? Here’s how to do it on the ASX
• Where I’d invest $20,000 in ASX shares this spring
• How much could the Pro Medicus share price rise in the next year?
• Warren Buffett’s playbook: 3 cheap ASX shares that could soar up to 60%
• 3 ASX shares I’d buy for the next 15 years

Motley Fool contributor Mark Verhoeven has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Pro Medicus. 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.

The good news for investors is that passive income does not have to come only from picking individual dividend shares.

ASX exchange traded funds (ETFs) can also be used to build an income stream, while spreading money across a portfolio of different holdings.

That can make them a handy option for investors who want dividends, but do not want to rely on one or two companies doing all the work.

With that in mind, here are three excellent ASX ETFs that could be worth considering for passive income.

Vanguard Australian Shares High Yield ETF (ASX: VHY)

The Vanguard Australian Shares High Yield ETF could be a simple option for investors wanting passive income from Australian shares.

This fund focuses on shares listed on the local market that are expected to provide higher dividend yields than the broader Australian share market.

That naturally gives it exposure to some of the ASX’s more mature, cash-generating businesses. These may include companies from sectors such as financials, resources, telecommunications, consumer staples, and infrastructure.

Among its holdings are giants such as BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA), and Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS).

Betashares Global Royalties ETF (ASX: ROYL)

The Betashares Global Royalties ETF offers a very different type of income exposure.

Rather than focusing on traditional dividend shares, this fund invests in companies that earn royalty income.

That can include royalties linked to areas such as music, intellectual property, pharmaceuticals, mining, energy, and other assets.

Royalty companies can earn a share of revenue from an asset without always carrying the same operating burden as the company producing, selling, or managing that asset directly.

This does not make them risk-free, but it can create attractive cash flow characteristics.

Betashares S&P 500 Yield Maximiser Complex ETF (ASX: UMAX)

A third ASX ETF to consider for passive income in September is the Betashares S&P 500 Yield Maximiser Complex ETF.

This fund gives investors exposure to a portfolio of US shares based on the S&P 500, while using an income-focused options strategy. This means it is able to produce more income than the underlying share portfolio would normally pay on its own.

That could be attractive for investors who want exposure to the US market but would also like regular distributions.

The trade-off is that this strategy can limit some of the upside when US shares rise strongly.

But for income-focused investors, UMAX could still be a useful option. It provides exposure to leading US companies while aiming to turn that portfolio into a stronger income generator.

The post 3 excellent ASX ETFs for passive income appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 ASX ETFs that are a perfect compliment to your superannuation
• How to earn $10,000 in passive income a month with these ASX dividend shares
• Term deposits are paying more than ever. Are ASX dividend shares still worth it?
• Could a September rate hike hurt your superannuation returns?
• VGS vs VHY: Which Vanguard ETF comes out on top?

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 positions in and has recommended BetaShares S&P 500 Yield Maximiser Fund and Telstra Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended BHP Group and 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.

The Corporate Travel Management Ltd (ASX: CTD) share price is back in focus after ASX lifted its trading suspension, with the company lodging its Preliminary Final Report for the year ended 30 June 2026.

What did Corporate Travel Management report?

• Resumption of trading on the ASX after suspension
• Lodgement of Preliminary Final Report for FY26
• Effective date of reinstatement: Thursday, 3 September 2026
• No financial result figures disclosed in this announcement

What else do investors need to know?

The suspension in Corporate Travel Management shares was lifted after the company submitted its FY26 report, allowing investors to once again trade its securities on the ASX. This marks the end of a trading halt and provides an opportunity for shareholders to re-engage with the company’s share price performance.

Trading will resume from market open on 3 September 2026. Investors should review the full annual report for financial details, as this announcement did not include headline revenue, profit, or dividend numbers.

What’s next for Corporate Travel Management?

With trading resumed, investors’ attention will turn to Corporate Travel Management’s full-year figures and any guidance offered in the Preliminary Final Report. Future updates may include insights into strategy, market conditions, or business performance in FY27.

The company’s results and subsequent market performance may provide a clearer outlook on how Corporate Travel Management is positioned in the travel and corporate services sector.

View Original Announcement

The post Corporate Travel Management shares resume trading after FY26 report appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Corporate Travel Management swings to profit as earnings jump in FY26
• Corporate Travel Management reports FY25 and 1HY26 earnings
• Corporate Travel Management secures new funding and updates on FY25 and FY26 earnings
• Corporate Travel Management updates UK remediation progress and settlement terms
• Corporate Travel Management teams up with Amadeus for global tech upgrade

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 Corporate Travel Management. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Corporate Travel Management. 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.

APA Group (ASX: APA) is one of the most impressive ASX dividend stocks in Australia, in my view.

There are very few businesses in Australia like APA. It owns a portfolio of energy assets that are worth tens of billions of dollars, which are key for Australia’s economy.

It transports approximately half of Australia’s gas usage with a huge gas pipeline network that spans a lot of the country. It takes gas from sources of supply to where the demand is.

APA also owns a number of other assets including gas-powered energy generation, gas processing, gas storage, solar farms, wind farms, batteries and electricity transmission.

That diversified portfolio has helped APA deliver reliable and comforting payouts. Let’s take a look at what makes it so appealing.

Incredibly reliable payout

Only one other ASX dividend stock has a better payout record than APA Group when it comes to consecutive years of growing payments to shareholders.

When APA announced its FY26 result, the annual dividend represented the 22^nd consecutive year of distribution increases. That’s more than two decades of non-stop growth!

Dividends are not guaranteed of course, but the sector that the business operates in means that it has defensive earnings.

It has managed to grow its payout through the GFC, COVID-19 and the last few years of inflation. Not only is the consistency of the payout appealing but the payment also comes at a good dividend yield.

Good dividend yield

A big dividend yield isn’t everything, but it certainly helps with the level of cash flow that’s paid out by the business.

There’s no ‘right’ dividend yield investors should necessarily target, but I think APA’s yield strikes the right balance between generosity and maintaining enough cash to invest in the business over time.

The business expects to slightly increase its annual payout per security in FY27 to 59 cents. That translates into a forward distribution yield of 5.4%. That’s a very competitive starting yield compared to what’s on offer from term deposits.

Growing earnings

This ASX dividend stock is not a fast-growing technology business, but it is seeing long-term earnings growth over time.

In FY26, it reported underlying operating profit (EBITDA) growth of 8.3% to $2.18 billion and free cash flow growth of 3.2% to $1.1 billion.

There are two main ways the business grows its financials. Firstly, it’s steadily expanding its portfolio of energy assets with gas pipelines, energy generation and electricity-related investments through both construction and acquisitions.

For example, on 20 August 2026, it announced it will construct, own and operate the 72MW Sybella Creek Solar Farm and 52MW 104MWh battery in Mount Isa, Queensland.

The other way APA’s financials are growing is that a vast majority of the revenue is inflation-linked. This can help provide a steady drumbeat of progress in revenue, underlying EBITDA, and cash flow.

What a $1,000 investment in the ASX dividend stock could do

With $1,000 an investor could buy 91 APA shares at the time of writing. That could mean generating $53.69 of passive income in the 2027 financial year from the ASX dividend stock, which is a solid starting point and I believe could lead to further growth in the coming years.

Given that APA shares have risen more than 20% in the past year (at the time of writing), this may not be the best value stock on the market today for investors seeking to beat the market. Therefore, other opportunities could be even more compelling.

The post $1,000 buys 91 shares in an impressively reliable ASX dividend stock appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• How to earn $10,000 in passive income a month with these ASX dividend shares
• Sell alert! Why this expert is calling time on CBA shares and this top ASX 200 stock
• 3 strong ASX dividend shares with yields up to 7.7%
• Term deposits are paying more than ever. Are ASX dividend shares still worth it?
• How much passive income can I earn off a $630,000 superannuation balance

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 positions in and has recommended Apa Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The team at Morgans has been busy running the rule over the popular ASX shares in this article.

Let’s find out if the three have been given buy ratings or something else this week. Here’s what you need to know:

Collins Foods Ltd (ASX: CKF)

Morgans is feeling positive about this KFC-focused quick service restaurant operator.

In response to a positive trading update, the broker has retained its buy rating and $10.60 price target on Collins Foods shares. It said:

CKF’s AGM trading update was positive. Group sales rose 6.6% over the first 17 weeks of FY27, with Australia resilient and European SSS (same-store-sales) inflecting from the weak start over the last 4 weeks, which we view positively in a tough consumer environment. 

Trading strengthened through the last 4 weeks, with KFC SSS of +3.1% in AU, +3.1% in the Netherlands, driven by the new Halal-certified range, and -0.1% in Germany, a material improvement on the -7.8% (Netherlands) and -7.2% (Germany) start over the first 8 weeks. We retain our BUY rating and A$10.60 target price; Australia is resilient and Europe is re-accelerating.

Goodman Group (ASX: GMG)

The broker highlights that this industrial property giant delivered a result in line with expectations last month.

And while its result wasn’t quite enough to justify a buy recommendation, the broker has retained its accumulate rating (between buy and hold) on Goodman shares with a $33.20 price target. It explains:

GMG’s FY26 result (reported 20-August) was solid and in line at the headline, with OEPS of 129.9cps (+10.1% on pcp) matching both MorgansF and consensus. In terms of composition, development earnings (+34% on pcp) carried the result, offsetting softer Management and Property investment earnings. The market remains focused on the pending data centre pipeline, with WIP having increased 53% to $19.7bn (78% data centres) at an 8.2% yield on cost. 

Leasing is progressing alongside construction, but with only a single 50MW Tokyo lease signed, investors are looking for further hyperscale conversions. We remain positive on the medium-term earnings trajectory, underpinned by a funded development book, low gearing (6.5%, 19.5% look-through) and scarce metro land and power. We retain our ACCUMULATE rating with a $33.20/sh TP.

Liontown Ltd (ASX: LTR)

This lithium miner reported operating earnings that were softer than consensus estimates but in line with Morgans’ expectations.

And with its outlook in FY 2027 unchanged, the broker has retained its accumulate rating on Liontown shares with a $1.40 price target. It said:

FY26 underlying EBITDA missed consensus estimates but was in line with MorgansF, while underlying NPAT beat expectations as the company swung to a net profit from a loss in FY25. FY27 outlook was unchanged with guidance already provided at the 4Q26 result and today’s release contained no material updates on the Kathleen Valley expansion timeline or ramp-up. FID for the expansion is expected by the end of 1Q27. Maintain ACCUMULATE with a A$1.40ps target price.

The post Buy, hold, sell: Liontown, Collins Foods, and Goodman shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Buy, hold, sell: Boss Energy, Austal, Liontown shares
• Want to invest in AI shares? Here’s how to do it on the ASX
• The RBA could hike rates in September. Which ASX shares are most at risk?
• Liontown enters Argentina lithium brine farm-in, diversifying future growth
• Why Liontown shares could be dirt cheap

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

Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG) shares have enjoyed a strong year of outperformance in 2026.

As have the company’s shareholders.

On Wednesday afternoon, shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) diversified financial stock were changing hands for $248.46 apiece.

That sees Macquarie stock up 22.0% year to date, smashing the 2.7% returns delivered by the benchmark index over this same period.

And we shouldn’t leave out the partly franked $4.20 per share dividend Macquarie paid out on 2 July. If we add that back in, then the accumulated value of Macquarie shares is up 24.0% this calendar year.

Which brings us back to our headline question.

After such a strong run, is it too late to buy the ASX 200 financial stock today?

Macquarie shares: Buy, hold or sell?

Morgans’ Damien Nguyen recently analysed the outlook for the surging stock (courtesy of The Bull).

“Macquarie benefits from a diversified global business spanning asset management, infrastructure, commodities and investment markets,” Nguyen said.

“Earnings momentum has improved as transaction activity and market conditions have stabilised, while long term growth opportunities remain attractive,” he added.

But following the strong gains this year, Nguyen issued a hold recommendation on Macquarie shares.

He concluded:

However, a stronger share price and a cyclical earnings profile suggest much of the recovery is already reflected in its valuation. We view the stock as fairly valued and maintain a hold recommendation. The shares have risen from $196.47 on March 3 to trade at $251.01 on August 27.

What’s been happening with the ASX 200 financial stock?

Macquarie shares were in focus when the ASX 200 stock reported its FY 2026 results on 8 May.

With the company achieving year on year growth across all of its operating groups, Macquarie reported a 30% increase in net profit after tax (NPAT) to $4.85 billion.

Commenting on the strong results on the day, Macquarie CEO Shemara Wikramanayake said:

Each of our businesses used its specialist expertise in navigating the current environment, identifying opportunities that support long-term growth and delivering positive outcomes for our clients and communities.

On 23 July, Macquarie again made financial news headlines when the company announced that Wikramanayake will step down as CEO in November. Wikramanayake has held the top post for eight years.

Greg Ward – currently Macquarie’s head of banking and financial services – will take over the reins following Wikramanayake’s retirement.

Macquarie shares set a new record closing high of $267.25 apiece on 6 August.

The post Up 24%! Are Macquarie shares still a good buy today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• How to build an ASX portfolio you can stick with for 10 years
• By September 2027, $5,000 invested in Macquarie shares could turn into…
• How I’d aim to build a $1 million ASX share portfolio in 20 years
• How I’d use ASX shares to build a second source of wealth
• 3 ASX shares I’d buy if I were a beginner today

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

On Wednesday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) had a disappointing session and dropped deep into the red. The benchmark index fell 0.95% to 8,978.4 points.

Will the market be able to bounce back from this on Thursday? Here are five things to watch:

ASX 200 expected to rise

It looks set to be a better session for Australian investors on Thursday following a positive night on Wall Street. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 39 points or 0.45% higher this morning. In the United States, the Dow Jones rose 0.55%, the S&P 500 was up 0.45%, and the Nasdaq pushed 0.45% higher.

ASX 200 shares going ex-dividend

A number of ASX 200 shares are going ex-dividend this morning and could trade lower. This includes packaging leader Amcor PLC (ASX: AMC), mining behemoth BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), supermarket giant Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL), private hospital operator Ramsay Health Care Ltd (ASX: RHC), and energy giant Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS). BHP is paying shareholders a 139.2 cents per share fully franked dividend on 23 September.

Oil prices rise again

ASX 200 energy shares Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) could have a positive session after oil prices rose again overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is up 0.45% to US$90.63 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is up 0.6% to US$95.22 a barrel. Traders were buying oil in response to an escalation in Middle East tensions.

Buy Nufarm shares

Nufarm Ltd (ASX: NUF) shares are in the buy zone according to Bell Potter. This morning, the broker has retained its buy rating on the agricultural chemicals company’s shares with an improved price target of $3.75. It said: “Our Buy rating is unchanged. Trading trends continue to infer FY26e is a year where improved gross margin (on lower COGS) and cost out are the main driver of profit growth. The is the potential for surprise is omega-3, where Peruvian fishoil stock is in short supply and pricing indicators are reaching levels consistent with previous peaks.”

Gold price charges higher

It could be a good day for ASX 200 gold shares Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) on Thursday after the gold price charged higher overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is up 0.9% to US$4,435.8 an ounce. Traders were buying the precious metal after the US dollar and treasury yields pulled back.

The post 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• BHP shares are falling – is it time to take profits?
• Buy, hold, sell: New Hope, BOQ, Santos shares
• Here’s how Fortescue, Rio Tinto and BHP shares stacked up in August
• Why is the ASX 200 having its worst day in 3 months?
• Coles versus Woolworths shares: Which ASX supermarket giant outperformed in August?

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Woodside Energy Group Ltd. 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 Amcor Plc. 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.