Author: openjargon

Real estate investment trusts have had a curious year, broking house Morgans says, with occupancy rates strong but share prices on the wane.

In a recent research note to clients, Morgans said the A-REIT index had fallen 15.5% over 12 months despite occupancy being at or near full across the industrial and convenience retail sectors.

Morgans has put the cause down to the swing in the interest rate cycle, with three increases so far this calendar year.

Morgans said:

Weighted average cost of debt rose for most names and FY27 assumptions are higher again.

The broker has identified five companies they rate as buys in the sector. Let’s see who they like.

Qualitas Ltd (ASX: QAL)

This company is a real estate private credit manager, rather than a real estate investment trust, but Morgans believes they are looking cheap at the moment.

They said Qualitas is growing market share as the major banks retreat from the sector.

They added:

Fee-earning funds under management is growing strongly, with a high proportion of repeat borrowers underpinning deployment quality. Near-term re-rating is constrained by broader private credit sector sentiment, though we do not view QAL’s loan book as subject to the same uncertainties as others in the space.

Morgans has a $3.90 share price target on Qualitas.

DigiCo Infrastructure REIT (ASX: DGT)

This company owns the SYD1 data centre, which Morgans describes as “a scarce Tier 1 CBD carrier hotel with secured power in a power constrained market”.

The data centre has an expansion plan on the cards, with Morgans saying the roadmap to full occupancy is well defined.

Morgans said the stock is trading at a significant discount to its net asset value.

Morgans has a price target of $3.60 on DigiCo.

GPT Group Ltd (ASX: GPT)

This company is well diversified across office, retail, and industrial assets, Morgans said, “complemented by a growing funds management platform that the market continues to undervalue”.

They added:

GPT’s scale and liquidity make it one of the most accessible ways to gain exposure to Australian commercial property, and one of the names best positioned to re-rate as the interest rate outlook moderates.

Morgans has a price target of $5.65 on GPT.

HMC Capital Ltd (ASX: HMC)

This alternative asset manager has “a growing, diversified platform spanning energy transition, healthcare infrastructure and daily needs real estate”, Morgans said.

The company’s recurring revenue stream is growing, “with the business progressively transitioning toward a more predictable, fee-based earnings profile”.

Morgans has a price target of $4 on HMC.

Garda Property Group Ltd (ASX: GDF)

Morgans said Garda operates a two-pronged business, generating revenue from both its industrial property portfolio and its private credit lending book.

Morgans has a price target of $1.30 on Garda.

The post 5 buy-rated shares in the ASX real estate sector to consider 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 no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Qualitas. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Qantas Airways Ltd (ASX: QAN) shares closed 2% higher on Wednesday afternoon, at $9.14.

The increase marks the third consecutive share price increase in as many days, meaning the ASX airline shares have now rebounded 5% this week.

It’s great news for investors after the travel stock tumbled 19% between early August and mid-September. The shares are now down 13% for the year-to-date and 16% lower than 12 months ago.

What caused Qantas shares to fall in August?

Ahead of the company’s FY26 results announcement in late August, the market hesitated about what the company might post. Some investors began selling their shares, expecting the results to disappoint and the shares to fall again.

And they were right.

In late August, Qantas reported a 13.8% year-on-year decline in its underlying profit before tax, and revealed that its statutory profit had fallen around 29%.

For the 12-month period, Qantas reported a 12.7% year-on-year drop in underlying earnings per share to 96 cents. And elsewhere, its $6.2 billion of net debt came in at the middle of its target range of $5.5 billion to $6.9 billion for FY26.

With profits down, management declared a fully-franked final Qantas dividend of 19.8 cents per share and a total dividend of 39.6 cents per share, down 25% from last year’s final payout.

At the same time, renewed conflict in the Middle East and further oil supply constraints have put pressure back on fuel prices. This has put airlines like Qantas under significant pressure. 

As part of its results, Qantas reported that the impact from the Middle East conflict has cost the airline an estimated $420 million to date, largely driven by higher jet fuel costs.

So, why are the shares climbing higher again now?

There hasn’t been any price-sensitive news out of Qantas this week to explain the latest turnaround in investor interest.

It’s likely that this week’s reprieve in oil prices could be helping to boost the airline’s shares higher. Global travel sentiment is also surprisingly resilient.

Trading Economics shows that crude oil fell back below US$89 per barrel on Wednesday from a high of US$105 per barrel last week, driven by progress in the US-Iran peace agreement.

Is it time to snap up the shares before they climb even higher?

It looks like the experts are confident we’ll see some sort of turnaround story in Qantas shares over the next 12 months.

TradingView data shows that the majority (14 out of 16) have a buy/strong buy rating on the shares. Another two rate the stock as a hold. But they all forecast an upside from the current trading level.

The $11.70 average target price implies a potential 28% upside over the next 12 months, at the time of writing. Even the minimum $10.40 target price implies the shares could jump 14% higher. 

The post Qantas shares are climbing higher again! Time to buy? 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 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.

CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) shares have passed $180 this week and are now eyeing the $200 mark. At the time of writing, the share price is $180.04, up 6% for the month and 27% over the past 6 months. Zooming out, CSL shares are still 10% lower over 12 months.

The ASX biotech stock has been through a difficult period. Earnings have faced pressure, Vifor has become a headache, and investors have questioned when the company’s growth engine will fire again. Now, the focus is shifting to recovery.

Here are three things that could determine whether CSL shares will actually get there.

1. Behring needs to fire

The first — and arguably most important — piece of the puzzle is CSL’s plasma therapies business, Behring.

Management is targeting mid-single-digit revenue growth in FY27, with immunoglobulin growth expected to land in the mid-to-high single digits. That’s encouraging on its own.

But revenue growth alone won’t cut it. Investors will want to see that growth flow through to the bottom line. If Behring can deliver stronger volumes while improving profitability, CSL’s earnings trajectory could start looking considerably more attractive.

2. Vifor needs to become less of a problem

Then there’s Vifor. Management expects Vifor revenue to decline by around 25% in FY27 amid generic competition and other headwinds. That’s a sizeable drag on the group.

The good news for CSL shareholders is that the rest of the business doesn’t need Vifor to boom. It needs Behring and Seqirus to demonstrate enough momentum to offset the weakness.

If that happens, investors may increasingly look beyond Vifor’s near-term problems and toward CSL’s longer-term earnings potential instead.

3. Margins need to expand

The third catalyst is efficiency. CSL delivered around US$176 million of cost savings in FY26 and is targeting further transformation savings in FY27.

That matters because margin expansion can turbocharge earnings growth. If CSL can grow revenue while simultaneously trimming its cost base, earnings could grow faster than sales.

And that’s the kind of dynamic that gives investors a reason to reassess how much they’re willing to pay for CSL shares.

So, what about $200?

CSL’s FY27 guidance currently calls for roughly 5% underlying NPAT growth at constant currency. So a sustained move above $200 may ultimately require investors to believe FY27 is the starting point of a multi-year earnings recovery, rather than the end of one.

Behring growth, margin expansion, and a stabilising Vifor business could therefore be the three ingredients CSL needs to pull this off.

There’s also a potential kicker sitting quietly in the background. CSL plans to buy back another A$1.1 billion of shares in FY27, which could provide additional support to earnings per share even without a single extra dollar of revenue.

The post Can CSL shares hit $200? 3 things that need to go right appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 CSL. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended CSL. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Whitehaven Coal vs New Hope shares

When it comes to Australian coal stocks, Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX: WHC) and New Hope Corp Ltd (ASX: NHC) both shine as prominent, dividend-paying, resource-heavy businesses. If you’re looking at coal shares for value or income, these two are probably near the top of your watchlist. But which one offers better value right now? Let’s break down the fundamentals and differences that really matter for investors weighing up Whitehaven Coal vs New Hope shares.

The case for Whitehaven Coal

Whitehaven Coal is one of Australia’s leading coal producers, exporting both thermal and metallurgical coal primarily to Asian markets. With its core operations in New South Wales’ Gunnedah Basin and recent expansion into Queensland’s Bowen Basin (through the Blackwater and Daunia mine acquisitions), Whitehaven now generates roughly 70% of its output from higher-margin metallurgical coal. According to its most recent profile, Whitehaven also sold part of its new Queensland assets to Japanese steel giants, bolstering its balance sheet and partnerships.

Looking at the numbers:

• Market cap sits at $6.37 billion, making it the larger of the two rivals.
• Its P/E ratio is 16.52, well below New Hope’s.
• Dividend yield is a modest 1.26%, but those payouts are fully franked.
• Year-to-date return is 3.6%, suggesting limited recent price momentum.
• EPS is $0.48 per share, and the company currently pays $0.12 per share in annual dividends.
• Dividend history shows some volatility, with larger special or final payouts in certain years.

The case for New Hope Corp

New Hope is an established Australian thermal coal producer, mainly operating the New Acland and Bengalla mines. The majority of New Hope’s output is also exported, positioning it as a beneficiary of Asian energy demand. Production volumes and reserves, according to its company profile, are robust enough to support the business for decades, and the ongoing expansion at New Acland could drive further growth. New Hope also holds a minority stake in a metallurgical coal asset, but thermal coal makes up almost all of its revenues.

On fundamentals:

• Market cap is $5.10 billion, smaller than Whitehaven, but not by much.
• The P/E ratio is 33.58—a lot higher than Whitehaven’s.
• Dividend yield is 3.92%, fully franked—significantly higher than Whitehaven’s current payout.
• Year-to-date return is a whopping 60.8%—a sign of very strong price momentum lately.
• EPS currently reads $0.19 per share, with $0.60 per share paid out as dividends.
• Dividend payments, according to the recent payment record, have been sizeable and frequent, including several special dividends.

Valuation comparison

With both companies in the coal space and at similar scales, the contrasts in valuation and yield stand out. Here’s a side-by-side look at the most relevant metrics:

Metric	Whitehaven Coal	New Hope
Market Cap	$6.37 billion	$5.10 billion
P/E Ratio	16.52	33.58
Dividend Yield	1.26%	3.92%
Earnings per Share (EPS)	$0.48	$0.19
Dividend per Share	$0.12	$0.60
Year-to-Date Return	3.6%	60.8%
Franking	100%	100%

Note: New Hope’s reported P/E ratio may be based on a different earnings measure (e.g. underlying or forward earnings) than the EPS figure shown, which is why they may appear inconsistent.

If value means paying less for each dollar of earnings, Whitehaven’s significantly lower P/E ratio stands out. But if income is your focus, New Hope’s current dividend yield is notably higher. That said, New Hope is actually paying out more in annual dividends than its listed EPS—investors should be mindful and look into whether this level is sustainable going forward.

Recent share price performance

Comparing 24 August to 21 September 2026:

• Whitehaven Coal shares moved from $8.09 on 24 August 2026 to $7.75 on 21 September 2026, falling around 4.2% over this period.
• New Hope shares went from $5.90 on 24 August 2026 to $6.05 on 21 September 2026, up about 2.5% in the same stretch.
• Year-to-date, Whitehaven is up just 3.6%, while New Hope has soared 60.8%—a phenomenal run.

Which is the better buy?

This is one of those rare coal sector battles where value and momentum tell different stories. On pure value, I think Whitehaven Coal edges ahead—with a much lower P/E ratio and a solid underlying business that has just bulked up its metallurgical coal presence. For yield hunters, though, New Hope is handing out far more cash (at least for now) and rewarding shareholders with bumper dividends and franking.

However, I’d be cautious: New Hope’s dividend per share exceeds its reported earnings per share, suggesting that its payout may not be sustainable longer term or could be supported by special dividends or reserves. On the other hand, Whitehaven’s yield is relatively low for a resources stock, but the company has delivered some chunky dividends in previous years, and its business mix is shifting toward higher-value metallurgical coal.

If I had to pick now, I’d lean toward Whitehaven Coal as the better value buy. It’s trading on a much lower earnings multiple, and recent acquisitions offer upside. New Hope looks great for yield and momentum, but its higher valuation and the question mark over dividend sustainability nudge me toward Whitehaven—for the long run.

The post Whitehaven Coal vs New Hope: Which ASX coal share offers better value today? 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.

It was a wild and volatile mid-week session for the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) and many ASX shares this Wednesday. After yesterday’s pleasing performance from the markets, investors didn’t quite seem to know what to do today.

After opening higher this morning, the ASX 200 spent time in both positive and negative territory this session, before closing in the green, up 0.086%. That leaves the index at 8,765.3 points.

This indecisive, yet positive, showing from the local markets comes after a mixed session on Wall Street.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) had a rough one, losing 0.36% of its value.

However, the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) did much better, rising 0.45%.

Let’s return to ASX shares now, and dive a little deeper into what was going on amongst the various ASX sectors this session.

Winners and losers

We had lots of winners and losers this Wednesday.

Leading the latter were again utilities shares. The S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) was slammed, plunging 2.21%.

Energy stocks had another shocker as well, with the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) cratering by 1.7%.

Communications shares were also on the nose. The S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ) took a 0.96% tumble by the closing bell.

Healthcare stocks weren’t popular either, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ)’s 0.62% dive.

Tech shares weren’t much better. The S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) lost 0.61% today.

Financial stocks were in that ballpark too, with the S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) dipping 0.56%.

Industrial shares weren’t riding to the rescue. The S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) suffered a 0.31% correction.

Our last losers this hump day were consumer discretionary stocks, as you can see from the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ)’s 0.09% slip.

With the losers out of the way, let’s turn to the winners. At the front of the pack, we had gold shares. The All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) held up well, adding a hearty 2.5% to its total.

Broader mining stocks ran hot as well, with the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) soaring up 1.57%.

Real estate investment trusts (REITs) were just behind that. The S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ) bounced 1.31% higher today.

Finally, consumer staples shares proved to be a safe haven, evidenced by the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ)’s 0.1% lift.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

Gold stock Catalyst Metals Ltd (ASX: CYL) was our crown-wearer this Wednesday. Catalyst shares shot up 6.57% to finish at $6.16 each. This move came despite no news from the company, although most gold shares did well.

Here’s how the other winners pulled up at the kerb:

ASX-listed company	Share price	Price change
Catalyst Metals Ltd (ASX: CYL)	$6.16	6.57%
Sunrise Energy Metals Ltd (ASX: SRL)	$21.65	5.71%
Pantoro Gold Ltd (ASX: PNR)	$3.01	5.61%
Minerals 260 Ltd (ASX: MI6)	$0.945	5.59%
Codan Ltd (ASX: CDA)	$53.10	4.50%
Elsight Ltd (ASX: ELS)	$4.88	4.05%
Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST)	$22.80	3.97%
Resolute Mining Ltd (ASX: RSG)	$1.23	3.80%
Nickel Industries Ltd (ASX: NIC)	$0.845	3.68%
Greatland Resources Ltd (ASX: GGP)	$11.18	3.52%

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 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.

Dicker Data vs Megaport shares

Many Aussie investors looking to back tech may consider Dicker Data Ltd (ASX: DDR) or Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1) for the growth and innovation in their portfolios. While both operate in the broader technology sector, Dicker Data focuses on wholesale IT distribution, while Megaport delivers network and cloud connectivity. If you’re weighing up Dicker Data vs Megaport shares, let’s dig into the key differences, strengths, and opportunities that set these two apart.

The case for Dicker Data

Dicker Data is a well-established IT distributor supplying computer hardware, software, cloud, and related technology products to Aussie and Kiwi businesses. Founded back in 1978, Dicker Data has built a robust client base across Australia and New Zealand, with more than 12,500 customers across Australia and in New Zealand, as of its company profile. The company highlights a hands-on approach, keeping its operations mostly in-house for faster and localised service.

Looking at fundamentals, Dicker Data stands out with:

• P/E Ratio of 25.31, suggesting investors expect reasonable future growth but at a more moderate valuation relative to the sector’s high flyers.
• A fully franked dividend yield of 3.05%, backed up by a strong history of regular, fully franked payouts — something many income-focused investors will appreciate.
• A market cap of $2.72 billion, making it a sizable but not top-heavy player in the Aussie tech landscape.

Dicker Data’s ability to blend growth with income, thanks to persistent profitability and payout history, is a key part of its appeal.

The case for Megaport

Megaport is a global network-as-a-service powerhouse connecting customers across a huge network of over 1,200 data centres is more than 30 countries. Its technology gives businesses nearly instant, flexible connections to top cloud platforms such as AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud – all without long-term lock-ins. The company made a big move into AI compute infrastructure in late 2025, acquiring Latitude.sh and adding virtual GPU cloud services, which could drive new growth. Megaport now splits operations into three regional networks and its new Compute division.

Megaport’s fundamentals paint a picture of a high-growth tech story:

• Year to date, shares have rallied 57.7%.
• Market cap is $4.49 billion, making it one of the bigger homegrown tech names on the ASX.
• It doesn’t currently pay a dividend, choosing to reinvest for aggressive expansion.

Investors chasing disruption and global growth might be drawn to Megaport’s scale and reach — but it comes with typical ‘new tech’ risks and volatility.

Valuation comparison

Here’s a clear look at the key valuation differences:

	Dicker Data	Megaport
Market Cap	$2.72 billion	$4.49 billion
P/E Ratio	25.31	370.00
Dividend Yield	3.05% (fully franked)	0.00%
Earnings per Share	0.590	-0.218
Year to Date Return	48.5%	57.7%

One thing stands out immediately: Dicker Data is turning a profit, paying reliable fully franked dividends, and trading at a P/E that’s still high but far below Megaport’s nosebleed 370.00. Megaport’s negative EPS (-0.218) is inconsistent with its extremely high P/E ratio, likely because its P/E is calculated on underlying or forward earnings — so take that number with a big grain of salt. Dicker Data looks much more mature, while Megaport’s market cap and valuation reflect investor optimism about its potential future earnings.

Recent share price performance

Both companies have enjoyed remarkable share price momentum in 2026, but let’s break it down:

• Dicker Data’s price history (24 Aug–21 Sep 2026) shows steady gains, with a couple of sharp daily jumps, notably a 20.66% surge on 28 August. Overall, shares are up 48.5% year to date.
• Megaport’s price history covers the same date range (24 Aug–21 Sep 2026), with a more dramatic 7.6% gain in one session and a few volatile down days, including an -8.3% stumble. But the stock is up an even stronger 57.7% year to date.

Which is the better buy?

If I’m backing raw upside in tech and don’t mind some bumpiness along the way, my pick would be Megaport. The company’s sky-high valuation (P/E of 370.00, and not yet profitable on a reported basis) means shares are priced on hopes for huge future growth — especially after the AI compute expansion. Its recent price run (+57.7% YTD), global reach, and expansionist energy signal a business chasing big opportunities, not dividends.

But if I want something steadier, with real profits and reliable fully franked income, Dicker Data stands tall. A 3%-plus dividend, a history of payout increases, and a market multiple far below Megaport’s make this a strong contender for those prioritising consistency or tax-effective yield.

In short, I reckon Megaport offers greater potential upside, but Dicker Data gives me solid value and income right now. For pure upside — and a whiff of risk — I’d lean towards Megaport. But both look like worthy, albeit very different, ways to ride the Aussie tech wave.

The post Dicker Data vs Megaport: Which ASX tech share has more upside? 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 positions in and has recommended Megaport. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Dicker Data. 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.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has been seesawing for most of Wednesday.

After climbing as high as 8,791 points earlier in the session, the benchmark gave up its gains and slipped into negative territory.

But the selling didn’t last, with the ASX 200 recovering to 8,769 points in late afternoon trade, putting it 0.13% higher for the day.

That’s a recovery of around 26 points from today’s low of 8,742, with mining shares helping offset weakness across several other sectors.

The index is now up approximately 1.1% over the past week, although it remains 3.2% lower over the past month.

So, is a recovery finally getting underway?

A mixed finish on Wall Street

Investors didn’t get much direction from Wall Street overnight, with the major US indices finishing Tuesday’s session mixed.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) slipped 0.36%, while the S&P 500 Index (SP: .INX) finished basically flat.

Meanwhile, the Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) gained 0.45%, reaching another record close as tech shares continued to attract buyers.

US banking shares struggled, with the financial sector falling almost 2% and weighing on the wider market.

Oil prices also moved lower, with Brent crude falling below US$100 a barrel amid hopes of improved supply from the Middle East.

Miners are keeping the ASX 200 afloat

Mining shares are providing much of the support today, with several major resource companies trading higher.

BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) has climbed 1.54% to $62.16, while Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) is up 0.95% to $167.88.

BHP is also paying its final dividend of US$0.99 per share today, following its ex-dividend date on 3 September.

The buying has extended to gold miners, with several of the larger producers also moving higher.

Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) has gained 4.17% to $22.85, and Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) is trading 2.89% higher at $14.05.

Banks and energy shares head lower

The major banks are heading in the opposite direction, with Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) slipping 0.81% to $151.09.

ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) has fallen 1.21% to $37.69, while Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) is down 0.97% to $34.57.

Energy shares are also struggling following the overnight decline in oil prices, with Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) falling 2.07% to $31.02.

Elsewhere, Insurance Australia Group Ltd (ASX: IAG) has dropped 2.11% to $7.90 after the ACCC blocked its proposed $1.35 billion acquisition of RAC Insurance.

The ACCC said the proposed acquisition would substantially lessen competition in Western Australia’s motor vehicle and home insurance markets.

Is a recovery on the table?

The ASX 200 has now recovered more than 100 points from its 15 September low of 8,657 points.

However, the benchmark remains well below its August high of 9,220 points, which means there’s still considerable ground to make up.

Investors are also looking ahead to the Reserve Bank’s next interest rate decision on 29 September.

The cash rate currently stands at 4.35%, with Governor Michele Bullock warning that upside risks to inflation may be materialising.

The post ASX 200 turns higher after a rocky start. Is a recovery on the table? 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 recommended BHP Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

It’s been a difficult September for PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS) shareholders, despite the lithium miner’s impressive gains over the past year.

The stock has climbed around 85% over the past 12 months, but has fallen more than 22% since closing at $5.48 on 1 September.

Today is offering some relief, though, with the PLS share price rising 2.79% to $4.245 in mid-afternoon trade.

However, despite the company’s improving financial performance, short sellers are still betting heavily against the stock.

In fact, PLS remains one of the most heavily shorted stocks on the ASX.

So, why are traders betting against the lithium miner?

The bears are still circling

According to the latest short-selling data, PLS is currently the 9th most shorted stock on the ASX.

As of 16 September, approximately 11.07% of its shares were held in short positions, representing more than 357 million shares.

That’s a substantial amount of money betting on the lithium miner’s share price falling further.

For those unfamiliar, short sellers borrow shares and sell them, hoping to buy them back at a lower price and pocket the difference.

With lithium prices still volatile, another pullback could take a decent chunk out of PLS’ earnings.

That’s something to watch as the company prepares to lift production again in FY27.

October could be a big test

PLS announced today that its September quarterly activities report will be released on 27 October.

The update will show how the miner is tracking against its FY27 production targets.

The company is forecasting production of between 1.03 million and 1.10 million tonnes this financial year, up from 879,500 tonnes in FY26.

Much of that increase will come from the restart of its Ngungaju processing plant, which began ramping up in July.

PLS is also expecting operating costs of between $575 and $625 per tonne, alongside capital expenditure of $620 million to $685 million.

Personally, I’ll be watching production, realised lithium prices, and cash generation closely.

The short interest is already above 11%, and a solid quarterly result could put some pressure on those betting against the stock.

Could short sellers get caught out?

While short sellers are betting on further weakness, analysts are pointing to a considerably higher share price.

According to TipRanks, the average 12-month price target from 12 analysts is $5.55, implying about 31% upside from today’s price.

7 analysts have buy ratings, 3 recommend holding, and 2 have sell ratings.

With so many shares currently shorted, I think the next few weeks could be very interesting.

The post PLS shares have surged 85% in a year. So why are short sellers circling? 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.

Anyone who bought ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) shares near their 52-week low of $32.46 would be sitting on a pretty decent gain today.

The banking giant has recovered more than 16% from that level, with its shares gaining around 13.5% over the past year and almost 7% since January.

Wednesday hasn’t been quite as positive, with the ANZ share price slipping 1.05% to $37.75 in midday trade.

That leaves the stock around 8% below its 52-week high of $41.

While ANZ has made progress with its turnaround, I think much of that improvement is already reflected in the share price.

Here’s why.

ANZ’s turnaround is gaining traction

ANZ’s latest quarterly results show some encouraging signs, although earnings growth remains fairly modest.

In its August trading update, ANZ reported cash profit of $1.90 billion, up just 1% compared with the quarterly average from the first half.

However, excluding a provision relating to a New Zealand class action, cash profit increased 5% to $1.98 billion.

Business and Private Banking lending grew 4%, while net interest income from its core banking operations increased 2%.

Operating expenses also fell 3% after excluding the legal provision, with management continuing to target a 5% reduction in annual costs.

Meanwhile, ANZ is progressing with its integration of Suncorp Bank, with customer migration scheduled for completion by June 2027.

The bank expects the integration to deliver approximately $500 million in annual pre-tax cost savings by FY29.

Is ANZ getting too expensive?

At $37.75, ANZ is trading on a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of around 19.3, with a trailing dividend yield of approximately 4.4%.

The dividend is appealing, but I’m not convinced the current valuation leaves much room for further upside.

TipRanks has an average 12-month price target of approximately $35.40 across 8 analysts, implying around 6% downside from today’s price.

The ratings are fairly mixed, with 3 buys, 4 holds, and 1 sell.

Citi is among the more optimistic brokers, with a $39.25 price target, while Macquarie has a $33.50 target.

Personally, I think ANZ needs to show more meaningful earnings growth before I’d be comfortable paying close to 20 times earnings.

Would I buy ANZ shares today?

Not at $37.75 apiece.

I’d be more interested if the share price pulled back towards $35, particularly if the bank continues delivering on its turnaround plans.

The next opportunity to assess that progress comes in November, when ANZ is scheduled to release its FY26 results.

The post ANZ shares have climbed 13% in a year. Is there still room to run? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 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.

Viva Energy Group Ltd (ASX: VEA), Codan Ltd (ASX: CDA), and AMP Ltd (ASX: AMP) shares have all climbed to fresh annual highs in Wednesday lunchtime trade. 

Here’s why the shares are peaking today, and what brokers expect next.

Viva Energy shares

Viva Energy shares have climbed around 1% and are trading at a two-year high of $3.24 a piece, at the time of writing. The increase means the shares have jumped roughly 14% over the past month and are now up around 55% year to date.

As Australia’s second-largest vertically integrated refined transport fuel supplier, Viva Energy has enjoyed tailwinds from tight fuel supply and rising prices through 2026 as conflict in the Middle East constrains the flow of oil in and out of the region. 

It looks like investors are still flocking to the stock after the company posted a strong first-half result in late August. It announced record EBITDA results of $774.4 million for the half year ending June 2025, up a huge 154% from the same period last year. Its NPAT also boomed 493% higher to $371.1 million.

The news followed an update from the company in late July, in which it said its Geelong refinery had successfully returned to 90% of its operations after being affected by a fire in April. 

Going forward, it looks like the experts are bullish that the shares can keep rising. TradingView data shows the majority (six out of 10) have a buy/strong buy rating on the shares. Although after the latest rally, the $3.04 average target price now implies a potential 6% downside ahead.

AMP shares

AMP shares are up around 3% at the time of writing this morning, to an eight-year high of $2.61 per share. After the financial services shares dipped to an annual low of $1.16 in March, they’ve mostly consistently climbed higher to the time of writing. They’re now up 43% for the year to date.

AMP shares have rallied higher since March on the back of a rebound in investor sentiment. The company has managed to execute an operational turnaround this year, enabling it to improve its earnings and return some capital to shareholders.

It has posted strong financial results; its assets under management (AUM) have climbed; its wealth business has improved; it has boosted its interim dividend; and it has also completed a series of share buybacks.

Last month, the company announced a 33% increase in underlying NPAT for the first half of FY26, and an 8.2% year-on-year increase in AUM to $167.6 billion. Management credited its AUM growth to momentum in AMP’s wealth and retirement businesses.

Going forward, the experts are still bullish on the shares. According to TradingView data, the majority (seven out of nine) have a buy/strong buy rating on AMP shares. But after the rally over the past six months, the $2.57 target price implies around a 2% downside ahead, at the time of writing.

Codan shares

Codan shares have climbed around 2% higher at the time of writing, to an all-time high of $52.49. The shares have trended upwards throughout most of 2026 so far and are now up a huge 81% year to date.

The company, which develops electronic solutions for government, military, corporate, and consumer markets globally, has climbed higher this year amid continued geopolitical volatility.

Its communications segment, which designs drones and defence and public-safety equipment, benefited from a strong price rally, driven by soaring demand for defence-related stocks earlier this year.

The shares were propelled higher by a strong FY26 result last month, with net profit up 69% and revenue up 30%.

And the company believes it has another record year ahead. Earlier this week, it announced it is targeting full-year revenue growth of around 20% for FY27 and noted that the financial year has started with positive momentum.

Investors are clearly thrilled, and experts are also very optimistic that the company can continue to grow.

TradingView data shows that the majority (five out of nine) have a buy/strong buy rating on the stock. The average $53.17 target price implies around 1% upside. Although some think the shares could jump another 10% to $57.56 each, at the time of writing.

The post Viva Energy, Codan, AMP shares reach 52-week highs: How much higher can they go? 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 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.