Author: openjargon

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is heading south on Wednesday.

At the time of writing, the benchmark index is down 1.38% to 8,941.9 points, with losses spread across most sectors.

There are 159 ASX 200 shares trading lower, compared with just 34 risers and 7 unchanged.

If the market closes around these levels, it would be the ASX 200’s worst session since 28 May, when the index fell 1.43%.

So, what is weighing on the market today?

What’s behind today’s fall?

The weak start followed another poor session in the US.

The S&P 500 Index (SP: .INX) fell 0.7%, the Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) dropped 1%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJX: .DJI) lost 0.8%.

Oil prices and bond yields are both causing some headaches.

Brent crude surged 4.6% overnight to US$94.65 a barrel following another escalation in tensions between the US and Iran. It has since pushed above US$96 a barrel.

That is adding to inflation concerns at a time when investors are already pricing in a greater chance of further interest rate rises.

The US 10-year Treasury yield has climbed to around 4.79%. This is the highest level since October 2023, while Australian 10-year yields have moved back to levels last seen in 2011.

Mining shares are being hit hard

The resources sector is doing plenty of the damage, with copper and gold prices falling.

BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) shares are down 2.93% to $64.88 after copper prices dropped overnight.

Gold miners are also having a difficult session, with Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) shares down 4.81% to $22.55 and Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) shares falling 4.29% to $14.28.

PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS) shares have also tumbled by 4.20% to $5.25.

In addition, a number of companies are trading ex-dividend today, with those moves expected to shave around 31 points off the index.

A few shares heading the other way

Energy shares are one of the few areas holding up as oil prices rise

Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) shares are up 2.02% to $33.36, and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) shares have gained 1.21% to $8.38.

Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS) is another standout, rising 1.94% to $4.72.

GDP beats expectations

Investors also got a new read on the economy this morning.

Our GDP grew 0.4% in the June quarter and 2.1% over the year, ahead of expectations for growth of 0.3% and 1.8%.

Even though it wasn’t a huge beat, it’s another result that could keep the interest rate discussion alive.

The post Why is the ASX 200 having its worst day in 3 months? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Santos versus Woodside shares: Which ASX energy stock outperformed in August?
• Why these ASX shares are worth watching closely today
• How to earn $10,000 in passive income a month with these ASX dividend shares
• Better buy: Telstra vs TPG Telecom shares
• The average superannuation balance for 64 year olds in Australia in FY27

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 positions in and has recommended Telstra Group. 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.

CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) shares have slid slightly into the red in Wednesday lunchtime trade.

At the time of writing, the ASX biotech stock is down around 0.2% and is changing hands at $172 a piece.

Despite the softer share price today, CSL shares are still up a huge 38% over the past month alone, have rebounded 86% from a multi-year low in early-June, and are now roughly flat for the year-to-date.

What has driven CSL shares higher over the past month?

After a difficult 18 months, including several market and company headwinds, it looks like investor sentiment around CSL shares have finally turned a corner and the worst could finally be over. And it appears to be driven by several tailwinds.

It looks like investors finally realised that the CSL share sell-off was overdone, and the shares were selling too cheap compared to the underlying business. 

At the same time, it looks like ASX healthcare shares have come back into favor after a significant sell-off. CSL hasn’t moved in isolation, either. Australian healthcare stocks have staged a major recovery, with the healthcare index rising more than 20% in a month recently.

The S&P/ASX 200 Health Care Index (ASX: XHJ) has jumped 17% higher over the past month as investors rotate back into the sector.

CSL shares were boosted even higher after it posted an impressive FY26 result in mid-August.

CSL reported total revenue of US$15.8 billion and NPAT of US$2.6 billion. It also recorded a net loss after tax of US$2.6 billion for FY26, coming from pre-tax impairments and restructuring costs. 

CSL management describes FY26 as a ‘reset year’, with FY27 marking a return to growth.

The result came in way ahead of guidance and investors rushed to snap up the shares.

Are the shares a buy for September?

I think there is a lot of potential for the company to grow over the next few years. CSL is operating in a high-growth market, and its blood plasma division dominates the market for rare blood disorders and immunoglobulin products.

The company’s growth initiatives are clearly working. But it’s likely it will take a while longer to see the financial benefits.

At the moment, forecasts suggest the experts are mostly on the fence. But after the latest price spike, many think we’ll see a downside ahead. 

Market Index data shows that brokers are split between a buy and a hold rating on CSL shares. The $153.21 average target price now implies a potential 11% downside, at the time of writing.

Sentiment is similar on TradingView. The majority (10 out of 18) have a hold rating on the stock. However, the other eight rate CSL shares as a buy/strong buy.

The average $168.13 target price is higher, but it still implies a potential downside of around 2%, at the time of writing.

I’d consider adding them to my portfolio in September, but I’d be wary of exactly how much upside, if any, it left after CSL shares rallied in August.

The post CSL shares rebound 86%: Is the ASX biotech stock a buy, sell or hold for September? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• The 5 best ASX 200 stocks to buy and hold in August revealed
• Top 3 ASX shares to buy in September 2026
• CSL shares are up more than 40% in a month. What just happened in the US?
• 5 things reporting season taught ASX investors about FY27
• Where will CSL shares be in 12 months? Brokers weigh in

Motley Fool contributor Samantha Menzies has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended 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.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) closed up 1.1% in the month just past, with Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL) shares trailing those gains while Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW) shares just edged out the benchmark index.

Closing on 31 August trading for $24.04 apiece, Coles shares slipped 0.2% over the month.

Woolworths shares went the other way, gaining 1.4% to close the month at $40.31 each.

Both of the ASX 200 supermarket giants reported their full year FY 2026 results in August.

Here’s what’s been happening.

Woolworths shares march higher in August

Woolworths shares were in focus on 26 August following the release of the company’s FY 2026 results.

The company achieved solid growth over the year, with sales of $71.54 billion up 3.6% from FY 2025. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) (before significant items) increased by 6.7% year on year to $6.09 billion.

And on the bottom line, Woolworths reported a net profit after tax (NPAT) of $1.60 billion, up 15.4% (before significant items).

Passive income investors were rewarded with a 15.6% increase in the final fully franked Woolworths dividend, which came out to 52 cents per share.

“Sales momentum together with strong productivity and cost discipline has delivered solid EBIT growth with an increased contribution from all trading segments,” Woolworths CEO Amanda Bardwell said.

Woolworths shares closed up 3.4% on the day of the results release.

Coles shares jump on results, slip over the month

Coles released its own FY 2026 results on 25 August.

Over the 12 months, Coles reported sales revenue of $45.58 billion, up a 2.8% year-on-year. Earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) of $2.32 billion were up 9.9% (excluding significant items).

On the bottom line, Coles NPAT came out to $1.26 billion (excluding significant items) up 13.7% from FY 2025.

Coles declare a 37-cent per share fully-franked final dividend, up 15% from the prior final dividend payout.

If you want to bank the final Coles dividend, there’s still time. But not much!

To grab that passive income, you’ll need to own shares at market close today. Coles shares trade ex-dividend on 3 September.

Coles shares closed up 4.9% on the day of the results release.

How have the ASX 200 supermarkets been tracking in 2026?

In morning trade today Coles shares are changing hands for $23.74 apiece, up 11.3% year to date.

Woolworths shares are trading for $39.36 each, up 33.7% in 2026.

The post Coles versus Woolworth shares: Which ASX supermarket giant outperformed in August? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• How to build an ASX portfolio you can stick with for 10 years
• Don’t panic if these 9 ASX 200 shares fall today
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Tuesday
• How much superannuation do I need to earn $90,000 per year in passive income?
• Up 12%: Is there still value in Coles shares?

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 no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The team at Shaw and Partners have used the recent reporting season as an opportunity to have another look at some of the companies they cover, with two in particular standing out as presenting some possible large upside.

Let’s have a look at the companies they like.

Beamtree Holdings Ltd (ASX: BMT)

Beamtree is a healthcare technology company which, in its own words, “applies deep clinical, coding and data expertise combined with AI to help hospitals and pathology labs improve clinical quality, coding accuracy, and reimbursement outcomes”.

The company said in a recent shareholder update that it had undertaken a strategic review which led to it refining its product mix, reshaping its cost base and strengthening its executive team.

The company added:

Going forward, we are focusing our investment on the products with strongest customer resonance, margin potential and capacity for innovation, namely our market leading Diagnostics product (Rippledown), our Coding solutions (PICQ and PICQ Audit, RISQ) and our Analytics platform. This year we are launching our Autonomous Coding Solutions (ACS) product and our Autonomous Data Entry (ADE) product with selected customers.

Shaw and Partners in its research note on the company said the company’s full year result of $29.2 million in revenue and negative EBITDA of $3.5 million was broadly as expected.

The broker said the business had a solid foundation to grow from, with execution now the key.

They have reduced their price target on the company from 30 cents to 25 cents, however this is still well above the current level of 10 cents.

NobleOak Life Ltd (ASX: NOL)

This small cap life insurance provider delivered a net profit of $14.1 million in FY26, up 98% while its in-force premiums grew 18% to $549.2 million.

The company’s Chief Executive Officer Anthony Brown said it was a good year, with the company achieving strong market share gains.

He added:

We are executing our growth strategy and during the year launched new partnerships and products including a new alliance with nib, one of Australia’s largest private health insurers, which is delivering encouraging early results and is expected to accelerate in FY27. Disciplined underwriting, ongoing investment in technology and AI, and a relentless focus on our customer continue to underpin our performance. As we transition from a Friendly Society to a Life Company, we are well positioned and well capitalised to deliver our next growth phase.

Shaw and Partners said NobleOak beat its guidance for both in-force premiums and underlying net profit.

The broker has a price target of $3 on the shares, compared to $1.23 currently.

The post 2 ASX small caps which could rise 140% to %150 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 fantastic ASX ETFs for Aussie investors in September
• This ASX 200 stock has fallen 32% from its high. Is it finally cheap?
• Santos versus Woodside shares: Which ASX energy stock outperformed in August?
• Could this ASX tech company really rise 180%?
• Corporate Travel Management swings to profit as earnings jump in FY26

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 Beamtree. 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.

September could be a good time to look at where your portfolio is heading.

Not just next week or next month, but over the next five to ten years.

ASX exchange traded funds (ETFs) can be a good way to invest in long-term themes, quality companies, and entire sections of the market without having to pick every individual winner.

With that in mind, here are three fantastic ASX ETFs that could be worth a look in September.

Global X Artificial Intelligence ETF (ASX: GXAI)

The Global X Artificial Intelligence ETF could be an ASX ETF to consider for investors wanting exposure to the AI boom.

This fund gives investors access to companies involved in artificial intelligence and the technology that supports it.

That can include businesses linked to chips, cloud computing, software, automation, data infrastructure, and other parts of the AI ecosystem.

Another positive with the ETF is that it does not require investors to make a single call on which AI company will dominate.

That is important because the AI opportunity is large, but it is also moving quickly. Some winners today may not be the winners of tomorrow.

The Global X Artificial Intelligence ETF gives investors a way to back the broader theme while spreading the risk across a basket of companies.

VanEck MSCI International Quality ETF (ASX: QUAL)

The VanEck MSCI International Quality ETF takes a very different approach.

Rather than focusing on one fast-moving theme, this ASX ETF looks for international companies with quality characteristics.

That means businesses with strong profitability, healthy balance sheets, and stable earnings. This could be a smart way to invest globally.

The world is full of companies, but not all of them are worth owning. Some are highly cyclical, some carry too much debt, and some struggle to grow consistently. The VanEck MSCI International Quality ETF tries to tilt investors toward the stronger names.

This could make it a strong long-term holding for investors who want global exposure with a quality filter.

Betashares S&P/ASX Australian Technology ETF (ASX: ATEC)

A third ASX ETF to look at is the Betashares S&P/ASX Australian Technology ETF.

This fund gives investors exposure to Australian technology stocks.

The local tech sector is much smaller than the US market, but that does not mean it should be ignored.

Australia has produced some impressive technology businesses across software, online marketplaces, payments, data, and digital services.

The Betashares S&P/ASX Australian Technology ETF gives investors a way to gain exposure to this part of the ASX without needing to choose one company.

It can be volatile, especially when growth shares fall out of favour.

But if more of the Australian economy keeps shifting online and local technology companies continue expanding offshore, this ETF could have plenty of long-term potential.

The post 3 fantastic ASX ETFs for Aussie investors in September appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Want to invest in AI shares? Here’s how to do it on the ASX
• 2 top ASX shares to buy and hold for the next decade
• 3 growth focussed ASX ETFs that could beat the market in FY27
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• 2 amazing ASX ETFs I’d buy and hold for the next decade

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.

REA Group Ltd (ASX: REA) shares have had a rough 12 months, with the stock now trading well below the levels seen late last year.

The REA share price is down another 3.06% to $164.59 today, extending its 2026 decline to around 10%.

It’s also a long way from the 52-week high of $242.81. From that level, the stock has fallen around 32%, despite bouncing strongly from its June low of $131.07.

That recovery carried REA shares back above $180 in August, but some of those gains have since been given back.

With the valuation lower and brokers still seeing upside, investors may be wondering whether REA shares now look attractive again.

Citi becomes more cautious

One broker that isn’t getting too excited about the lower share price is Citi.

According to The Australian, analyst Siraj Ahmed has downgraded REA shares to ‘neutral’ after their recent rebound, although he lifted his price target by 4% to $191.30.

That still sits around 16% above the current share price.

Citi’s concern is that some of the value that appeared after the June sell-off has already disappeared. REA shares rallied more than 30% from their low, pushing the valuation higher again.

The broker is also worried about property listings, particularly with interest rates still a risk.

REA expects national buy listings to be flat to down by a low single-digit percentage in FY27. Citi is more bearish and is forecasting a decline of around 5%.

And with the stock trading at 30 times forecast earnings, Citi thinks there’s less room for things to go wrong if listings keep falling.

What are other brokers saying?

The wider broker view on REA shares is still fairly mixed.

According to TipRanks, 10 recent analyst ratings give the stock an average 12-month price target of $191.32.

That suggests potential upside of around 16% from the current share price.

The consensus includes 4 buy ratings, 5 holds and 1 sell.

Morgan Stanley is the most bullish with a $230 target, while Ord Minnett is close behind at $225.

Morgans has a $203 target, RBC Capital sits at $197 and Jefferies is at $195.

UBS is more reserved with a $177 target, while Macquarie is only slightly above the current share price at $170.

However, Bell Potter is the most bearish of the group, with a sell rating and $147 price target.

Are REA shares cheap yet?

REA shares are certainly a lot cheaper than they were, but that doesn’t automatically make them a bargain.

The business is still growing. FY26 core net profit rose 15% to $650.5 million, while the full-year dividend increased 20% to $2.97 per share.

But the broker targets show there is still plenty of debate over what investors should be willing to pay.

A lot will depend on whether REA can keep lifting revenue and margins if property listings weaken further.

The post This ASX 200 stock has fallen 32% from its high. Is it finally cheap? 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 positions in and has recommended Jefferies Financial Group. 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.

Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) and Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) shares were in focus in August as both S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) energy stocks reported their half year results.

Both companies also faced fluctuating oil and gas prices over the month.

The Brent crude oil price started August at around US$90 per barrel, falling to US$79 per barrel by 4 August amid promising Middle East peace negotiations. But as those negotiations faltered, oil marched higher again to end August right about where it started, at around US$90 per barrel, according to data from Bloomberg.

By market close on 31 August, one of the ASX 200 energy stocks had materially outperformed the 1.1% gains posted by the benchmark index over the month, while the other finished in the red.

Here’s what’s been happening.

Woodside shares slip in August

Woodside shares were the underperformers in August, closing the month down 1.6% at $32.42 apiece.

Woodside reported its half year results on 25 August.

Over the six months, the company raked in US$7.45 billion in operating revenue, up 13% year-on-year.

And on the bottom line, Woodside’s net profit after tax (NPAT) of US$1.67 billion was up 27%.

Despite the profit boost, the fully franked interim dividend of 79.5 cents a share was down 2.8% from last year.

That Woodside dividend is still up for grabs, by the way. But not for long. Woodside stock trades ex-dividend tomorrow, 3 September. So if you want to bank that passive income payout, you’ll need to own shares at market close today.

Woodside shares closed down 1.4% on day of the half year results release.

Santos shares outperform

Santos shares outpaced Woodside shares and the ASX 200 in August, gaining 3.8% over the month to close on 31 August at $8.14 apiece.

But Santos performance is actually better than this figure indicates.

That’s because Santos stock traded ex-dividend on 24 August.

So investors who held the stock on 21 August (a Friday) will be receiving that payout on 23 September.

If we add that 16.3 cent per share unfranked dividend back into the 31 August closing price, then the accumulated value of Santos shares gained 5.9% over the month just past.

Atop the dividend news, when Santos released its half year results on 19 August, the company reported a 2% year-on-year increase in sales revenue to US$2.62 billion.

And sales volumes increased by 1.7% to 48 million barrels of oil equivalent (mboe).

Investors also didn’t appear overly concerned about the 19% decline in Santos’ half-year statutory net profit after tax (NPAT), which declined to US$355 million.

Instead, investors look to be focused on the company’s growth potential as its major projects come on line and near completion.

The company provided full calendar year production guidance of 99 to 105 mboe.

Santos shares closed up 2.5% on day of the half year results release.

How have the ASX 200 energy stocks tracked in 2026?

As of early morning trade today, Santos shares are up 37.1% year to date.

Woodside shares have gained 42.1% so far in 2026.

The post Santos versus Woodside shares: Which ASX energy stock outperformed in August? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday
• When to sell your ASX shares? Warren Buffett has 3 answers
• How much passive income can I earn off a $630,000 superannuation balance
• Santos shares rebound 8% in a month: Buy, sell or hold?
• Top 3 ASX dividend shares to buy before they go ex-dividend

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 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.

Hi-tech memory company Weebit Nano Ltd (ASX: WBT) posted a huge jump in net profit recently to a record $15.3 million, and the analysts at Pitt Street Research believe the shares are now in line for a rerating.

The profit was up 246% on FY25 and the company believes strong growth will continue due to the benefits of their ReRam technology.

Fast, efficient memory to drive revenue

Weebit Nano said in their recent profit report that AI, digitisation and “increasing intelligent electronics” were driving demand for faster, more efficient embedded memory.

The company said:

ReRAM is becoming the leading technology to succeed embedded flash in next‑generation semiconductor devices, combining the performance, scalability and manufacturability required for future applications. Weebit ReRAM delivers ultra‑low power consumption, fast access times, excellent endurance and long data retention, even at high temperatures and in harsh operating environments. It is highly scalable to advanced process nodes and supports emerging computing architectures, including AI applications. With qualified solutions available across multiple foundry platforms, Weebit ReRAM is well positioned for a broad range of automotive, industrial IoT, consumer and AI‑enabled devices.

Weebit Nano Chief Executive Officer Coby Hanoch said the company expected revenue of at least $7.1 million in the first half of FY27, up from $5.6 million in the previous corresponding period.

He added:

Weebit Nano has a large addressable market. We are currently the leading independent supplier that can support multiple foundries and their customers, while competing ReRAM technologies developed by some foundries, are generally available only to customers manufacturing within these foundries. We enter FY27 in a materially improved financial position, having successfully raised $102 million (including a Share Placement Plan) to cement our ReRAM leadership in the embedded NVM market and accelerate development of a solution for the In‑Memory Compute (IMC) domain.

Broker says this ASX tech stock is looking cheap

Pitt Street Research said in a note to clients this week that Weebit Nano was building strong traction in the analogue semiconductor market, “which we see as its “lowest-hanging” commercial opportunity, with two of its largest customers already in the space”.

The broker said analogue was just one of multiple large markets for the company.

They added:

The real inflection point, however, in Weebit Nano’s business model begins as royalty revenue starts to scale. Royalties carry very high incremental margins, meaning a greater share of each additional dollar of revenue should flow through to profitability. In our scenario analysis, we believe royalties could account for more than 30% of total revenue post-2030, as existing customers move into broader mass production.

Pit Street Research has a price target on Weebit Nano shares of $10.20, compared to $3.46 currently. The company is valued at $899.2 million.

The post Could this ASX tech company really rise 180%? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Weebit Nano FY26: Record revenue, new customer wins

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.

This week, Corporate Travel Management Ltd (ASX: CTD) posted its FY26 results, revealing a 36% lift in underlying EBITDA to $113.6 million and $17.7 million net profit after tax for FY26.

What did Corporate Travel Management report?

• Revenue and other income up 4% to $669.9 million
• Underlying EBITDA rose 36% to $113.6 million
• Net profit after tax (NPAT) of $17.7 million (improved from an FY25 loss of $348.5 million)
• Transaction volumes climbed 13% to 18.3 million
• $669 million in new business wins and $1.5 billion re-tendered or renewed
• Group liquidity supported by $106.9 million cash and new $175 million funding package

What else do investors need to know?

CTM made solid progress on resolving customer refund matters during the year, with around 78% of refunds now either agreed or close to being finalised. The business also continued to embed improvement initiatives in governance, risk management, and operational controls across its regions.

Results showed notable improvement in both Australia/New Zealand and Europe. ANZ revenue grew 6%, with a 53% jump in underlying EBITDA, while Europe delivered a turnaround, helped by new special project work and better contract terms. The company also finished the year with substantial cash reserves and recently secured an extra $175 million funding package to support ongoing operations and remediation.

The Whole of Australian Government Travel Arrangements audit found no evidence of widespread overcharging and highlighted robust program controls and a collaborative approach between CTM and government. The company also announced Stewart Harvey as its new CEO for UK/Europe, following an extensive recruitment process.

What did Corporate Travel Management management say?

Managing Director and CEO Ana Pedersen said:

FY26 represents an important step forward for CTM. We delivered a significant improvement in earnings and continued to maintain strong levels of client retention across our global operations. The strength of our customer franchise was evident throughout the year, with $669 million of new business wins and $1.5 billion of re-tenders and renewals secured across the Group. This demonstrates the confidence customers continued to place in CTM throughout FY26 and provides clear evidence of the quality of CTM’s customer service and value proposition. We also made substantial progress on customer remediation, with approximately 78% of refunds agreed or close to finalisation, supported by the recently announced $175 million funding package. While our earnings remain below historical levels and there is still work to do, FY26 demonstrates meaningful progress in stabilising the business, strengthening our foundations and positioning CTM for growth.

What’s next for Corporate Travel Management?

The company says trading in the first month of FY27 is broadly in line with expectations, with transaction volumes and TTV reflecting usual seasonal factors and client mix. Year-to-date, CTM has secured $178 million in new business wins and renewed key contracts, including with the UK Ministry of Defence.

The Board remains focused on finalising remediation activities, continuing to strengthen governance and control frameworks, and improving operating performance. Further insights and guidance are expected at the Annual General Meeting in November 2026.

View Original Announcement

The post Corporate Travel Management swings to profit as earnings jump in FY26 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 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.

September is here, and two ASX technology shares are high on my watchlist after recently reporting their FY26 results.

I think both still have substantial long-term opportunities ahead, although investors need to be comfortable with some uncertainty along the way.

Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP)

Zip has become a much stronger business than the company investors may remember from the buy now, pay later boom.

The company finished FY26 with 6.5 million active customers and 97,400 merchants globally. Total transaction volume increased 27% to $16.7 billion, while cash EBTDA jumped 58% to $268.9 million.

For me, the important development is that rapid growth is increasingly being accompanied by stronger profitability.

The US opportunity remains especially exciting to me. Zip has been expanding beyond occasional discretionary purchases into areas such as health, education, transport, groceries, and other everyday spending. Customers are also using the service more frequently, while partnerships with businesses such as Stripe can put Zip in front of many more merchants.

This creates the possibility of Zip becoming a much more regular part of how customers manage short-term cash flow.

Credit quality will always be important, and consumer lending brings risks if economic conditions weaken. But Zip’s FY26 net bad debts remained well controlled at 1.8% of transaction volume.

I think the combination of US growth, improving profitability, and deeper customer engagement makes Zip an interesting September buy.

WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC)

I would also buy WiseTech shares in September.

There is still uncertainty around the integration of e2open, its newer commercial model, leadership changes, and how quickly some of its growth initiatives will deliver.

But I find its position within global logistics difficult to ignore. WiseTech’s software is used by more than 20,000 logistics companies across 193 countries. This includes 47 of the world’s top 50 third-party logistics providers and 24 of the 25 largest global freight forwarders.

I think that is an extraordinary position in an industry where moving goods internationally requires companies to handle customs, compliance, transport, warehousing, documentation, and countless other processes.

CargoWise sits deep inside those operations.

WiseTech also ended FY26 with 61 large global freight forwarder rollouts, while several contracted customers still have substantial volumes waiting to go live. I think that gives the company a strong foundation for further growth.

The e2open integration could expand WiseTech’s reach across the wider supply chain, while AI offers opportunities to automate more of the work its customers currently perform manually.

There is plenty to prove, but I am willing to accept some uncertainty when the underlying competitive position is this strong.

Foolish takeaway

Both ASX shares require investors to look beyond the next quarter.

Zip is showing that its US expansion can produce strong growth alongside improving economics, while WiseTech remains deeply embedded in an industry where its software can become increasingly valuable.

For investors prepared to tolerate some bumps, I think September could be a good time to take a closer look at both.

The post Why I think Zip and WiseTech shares could be buys in September appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• 5 things reporting season taught ASX investors about FY27

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