Author: openjargon

The tech sector has been under pressure this year, and some former market favourites have fallen a long way from their highs.

But I think that can create opportunities when the business is still growing, improving, and building a stronger platform for the future.

One ASX tech share that looks interesting to me today is SiteMinder Ltd (ASX: SDR).

A big fall from the highs

SiteMinder shares are trading at $3.14 on Friday.

That compares to a 52-week high of $7.96, meaning the share price is down around 60% from that level.

A fall like that should not be ignored. It tells me the market has become far more cautious on the stock, whether because of valuation pressure, weaker sentiment toward technology shares, or concerns about how long it will take for the company to prove its growth story.

But it also means investors today are looking at the business from a very different starting point.

At $3.14, a $3,000 investment would buy around 955 shares. At its high, it would have only bought around 377 shares.

Why I like the business

SiteMinder provides hotel commerce technology.

Its platform helps accommodation providers manage distribution, bookings, pricing, revenue, and connections across different online channels and hotel systems.

I think that is an attractive niche.

Hotels are operating in a more complex world. They need to manage direct bookings, online travel agencies, wholesalers, metasearch, pricing changes, availability, and guest demand across multiple markets.

That is a lot for independent and mid-market hotels to handle.

SiteMinder sits in the middle of that complexity. In my view, that gives the company an important role in the hotel technology stack.

The company’s recent investor presentation showed it had 53,000 properties on the platform, more than 2.5 million rooms, 450-plus distribution partners, and annual activity of more than 135 million reservations. It also highlighted more than $85 billion of gross booking value across the platform.

Those numbers suggest to me that SiteMinder already has meaningful scale.

The growth story is still alive

What I like most is that SiteMinder is not just adding customers. It is also trying to increase the value it earns from each customer.

The company’s Smart Platform strategy is central to that.

This includes initiatives such as Smart Distribution, Channels Plus, and Dynamic Revenue Plus. The aim is to help hotels make better revenue decisions, improve distribution, and automate more of the process.

I think this is important because it gives SiteMinder more ways to grow than simply signing up new hotels.

Strong metrics

With its half-year results, the company reported annual recurring revenue growth of 27.4%, total revenue growth of 23%, and adjusted EBITDA of $12.3 million, which more than doubled from the prior corresponding period.

It also reported monthly revenue churn of 1%, average revenue per user (ARPU) growth of 11.3%, and LTV/CAC of 6.7 times.

Those are the kinds of metrics I want to see from a software business. They suggest customers are valuable, acquisition economics are improving, and the company is becoming more efficient as it scales.

AI could be an advantage

I also think SiteMinder is an interesting artificial intelligence (AI)-related stock, but not in the obvious hype-driven way.

AI could make hotel distribution and pricing even more complex. More dynamic pricing, more personalised offers, and more AI-driven discovery could increase the need for reliable systems that keep inventory, rates, and channels synchronised.

That is where SiteMinder’s infrastructure could become more valuable.

The company argues that AI increases complexity and raises the cost of errors. I think that makes sense. Hotels cannot afford overbookings, incorrect rates, or broken distribution links.

If SiteMinder can use AI to improve insights, automate workflows, and help hotels capture more revenue, then the Smart Platform could become a more important part of the business over time.

Foolish takeaway

SiteMinder is not risk-free.

The share price has fallen heavily, tech sentiment remains fragile, and the company still needs to keep proving that its Smart Platform strategy can turn strong activity levels into durable earnings growth.

But I think the ingredients are attractive.

The business has scale, recurring revenue, improving profitability, strong unit economics, and a large opportunity to monetise more of the hotel bookings flowing through its platform.

After a 60% fall from its 52-week high, I think a $3,000 investment in SiteMinder shares could be a worthwhile move for investors who are comfortable with growth stock volatility and willing to take a long-term view.

The post Down 60%, why I’d invest $3,000 in this ASX tech share now appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 2 ASX growth shares to buy now while they’re on sale
• How I would invest $10,000 across ASX growth shares in May
• 3 ASX growth shares I’d buy with $7,000
• 3 exciting ASX shares you won’t want to miss out on
• ASX 200 tech shares rocket 13% as long-awaited sector rebound accelerates

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

S&P/ASX All Ords Index (ASX: XAO) shares are down 1.7% at 8,955.5 points on Friday.

Meanwhile, Bell Potter has reiterated its buy rating on two ASX All Ords shares.

Let’s take a look.

Orica Ltd (ASX: ORI)

The Orica share price is $21.38, down 5% today and down 12% in 2026 to date.

Bell Potter has issued a new note on this ASX All Ords materials share and maintains a buy rating.

This followed the explosives manufacturer releasing its 1H FY26 report this week.

Orica reported EBIT of $512 million, up 5% year over year, and an 8% rise in underlying net profit after tax (NPAT) to $283.1 million.

Earnings per share (EPS) (pre-significant items) rose 12% to 60.7 cents. The return on net assets was 14.7% — the highest in 13 years.

Orica shares will pay an unfranked interim dividend of 28.5 cents per share, up 14% on 1H FY25, on 3 July.

The broker commented:

ORI is well positioned to deliver EBIT growth in the short-to-medium term, underpinned by cyclical tailwinds in mining and exploration markets.

The broker added:

ORI is not currently experiencing any immediate material constraints relating to the Middle East conflict.

ORI sees positive momentum continuing beyond FY26, with medium term targets unchanged.

The majority of benefits from a >$100m cost-out program underway is expected to be realised in FY27 and beyond.

Bell Potter reduced its price target from $28.50 to $25, suggesting 17% upside from here.

Beacon Lighting Group Ltd (ASX: BLX)

The Beacon Lighting share price is $1.70, up 5.3% on Friday but down 40% in 2026 to date.

This week, Bell Potter retained its buy call on the ASX All Ords consumer discretionary share but noted concern about broader economic conditions today.

In a new note, the broker said:

Following the third 25bps rate hike for 2026 in May, and the effect of intensified geopolitical events on global supply chains and consumer sentiment, we have adjusted our expectations for Beacon’s Retail business.

Recent data on auction clearance rates has shown the lowest monthly clearance rate since Apr-20, which as a leading indicator for the Retail segment, points to a difficult outlook.

On top of this, consumer sentiment has significantly deteriorated because of not only interest rate increases but petrol price inflation directly impacting the consumer wallet.

However, the broker said increased renovation spending and house building approvals boded well for Beacon Lighting’s trade segment.

Bell Potter added:

The growth outlook for Beacon’s Trade business is built off our expectations that homeowners are choosing to invest in and refurbish their existing homes rather than relocate.

The broker slashed its 12-month price target from $2.85 to $2.05, but this still suggests significant upside potential.

While our PT decreases by ~28% to $2.05, it remains almost 32% (incl. yield) above the current share price so we maintain our BUY recommendation.

The post 2 ASX All Ords shares to buy now: broker appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Why is this ASX industrial stock storming higher today?
• Orica posts record first-half earnings and higher dividend
• 3 ASX shares tipped to grow 75% or more in the next 12 month!
• 7 ASX 200 shares just upgraded to strong buy ratings

Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen 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.

Amcor Plc (ASX: AMC) released its third-quarter results this week, and while the headline numbers were impressive, there’s more to the figures than meets the eye.

This is because the company finalised the massive acquisition of Berry in late April last year, and hence any figures this year are naturally expected to be well up on the same period last year. That means it’s helpful to look to the experts, in this case Macquarie, to get a handle on how the company is really travelling.

Massive revenue jump

So what did Amcor announce this week?

Amcor said earlier this week that sales for the third quarter came in at US$5.91 billion, up 77%, and adjusted EBITDA was US$492 million, up 87%.

Amcor Chief Executive Peter Konieczny said regarding the result:

Third quarter results were in line with expectations and reflect the resilience of our business as we mark the first anniversary of bringing legacy Amcor and Berry together as One Amcor. Over the past year, we have executed a smooth integration, built a strong leadership structure, and made meaningful progress on synergy delivery and portfolio optimization. While we continue to operate in a challenging market environment, our global scale, diversified portfolio, and strong customer and supplier partnerships position us well.

Mr Konieczny said the company was pricing responsibly to offset inflation and it had “clear visibility to additional synergy benefits”.

Amcor, he said, had a proven ability to navigate volatility and “we are confident in our outlook and the continued strength of our business”.

While the company’s financial results were strong, Amcor estimated that volumes were about 1.5% lower than for the combined Amcor and Berry businesses in the March quarter last year.

The company did boost its dividend, from US63.75 cents to US65 cents, with Australian shareholders to be paid 91 cents.

Shares looking like a good buy

Macquarie said in its note to clients this week that Amcor was managing raw materials costs well, “with no material impact expected on Q4 earnings”.

They added:

Having been hit hard by rising oil prices, stock is a beneficiary of any end to the Middle East war as supply chains & oil prices normalise in that event.

Macquarie said their investment thesis was based on the company delivering on further synergy savings, managing their controllables well, and a bounce back as the Middle East situation normalised.

Macquarie has a price target of $72 on Amcor shares compared with $55.02 currently.

Amcor also pays a dividend yield of 6.6%, with Macquarie expecting that to increase marginally in the coming years.

Amcor is valued at $24.37 billion.

The post What does Macquarie say Amcor is worth after this week’s quarterly? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why Amcor, Credit Corp, Neuren, and Zip shares are charging higher today
• Why Tabcorp, Light & Wonder and Amcor shares are making waves on Thursday
• Why are Amcor shares surging higher today?
• Amcor earnings surge on Berry acquisition
• CSL and Wesfarmers among scores of ASX shares hitting fresh 52-week lows

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

ASX financial stock QBE Insurance Group Ltd (ASX: QBE) slipped 2.6% to $22.07 during Friday afternoon trade. The insurance share fell despite delivering solid first-quarter numbers and maintaining its upbeat outlook for 2026.

Over the past 12 months, QBE shares have risen around 2.6%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), which gained roughly 8% over the same period.

So, what exactly did the insurance giant report?

Strong premium growth

QBE is one of Australia’s largest insurers, operating across Australia, North America, Europe, and Asia. The company provides a broad range of insurance products spanning commercial, crop, property, and specialty insurance. One of QBE’s key strengths is its global diversification. It generates earnings across multiple markets and insurance categories, helping reduce reliance on any single region or business line.

On Friday, the ASX financial stock reported strong premium growth for the first quarter of 2026. Gross written premium (GWP) increased 11%, or 7% on a constant currency basis. Growth was particularly strong in targeted segments, including North America Crop and selected portfolios within its International division.

QBE also continued benefiting from supportive insurance pricing conditions. Group premium rates increased around 2% during the quarter, although management flagged rising competition in commercial property insurance and the Lloyd’s market.

Storms Northern Hemisphere

At first glance, the update from the ASX financial stock looked solid.

But investors appeared more focused on claims costs and broader market risks. QBE revealed catastrophe claims had reached approximately $300 million during the first four months of the year. These costs were driven largely by multiple weather events in Australia and storms across the Northern Hemisphere.

The company also disclosed limited exposure to the Middle East conflict, estimating net claims of roughly $60 million, which were included within catastrophe costs.

While those figures remain manageable for a company of QBE’s scale, they highlight the growing volatility insurers face from extreme weather events and geopolitical instability. That may help explain the weaker share price reaction despite strong premium growth.

What next for the ASX financial stock?

Looking ahead, management maintained its full-year 2026 guidance.

QBE still expects mid-single-digit gross written premium growth on a constant currency basis and a Group combined operating ratio of around 92.5%.

The ASX financial stock also reaffirmed its medium-term targets, including adjusted return on equity above 15% and ongoing premium growth. Management said the business remains focused on disciplined underwriting, portfolio management, and navigating dynamic global insurance conditions.

Investors will get a closer look at earnings momentum when QBE releases its first-half 2026 results on 14 August.

Foolish Takeaway

For now, the market appears to be balancing two competing forces: strong operating performance on one side, and rising catastrophe risks and competitive pressures on the other.

That combination may explain why QBE shares slipped despite what looked like a solid quarterly update overall.

The post Why is this ASX financial stock dropping despite solid results? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why Macquarie, QBE, Tabcorp, and Westpac shares are dropping today
• The ASX 200 just suffered its biggest fall in 7 weeks. Here’s what’s going on
• Why QBE, Block and Macquarie shares are grabbing headlines on Friday
• Alcoa announces June 2026 dividend
• News Corporation reports Q3 FY26 profit jump as digital arms shine

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 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 S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is having a tough finish to the week. In afternoon trade, the benchmark index is down 1.8% to 8,721.4 points.

Four ASX shares that are not letting that hold them back are listed below. Here’s why they are rising:

Block Inc. (ASX: XYZ)

The Block share price is up 5% to $103.33. Investors have been buying the payments company’s shares following the release of its quarterly update. Block delivered gross profit of US$2.91 billion for the first quarter of 2026. This was up 27% year on year. This was driven by strong growth across Cash App and Square. It revealed that Cash App gross profit was up 38% to US$1.91 billion and Square gross profit up 9% to US$982 million. Block’s CEO, Jack Dorsey, said: “We continued to deliver strong financial performance in the first quarter as AI became more central to how Block operates and what we build for customers.”

News Corporation (ASX: NWS)

The News Corporation share price is up almost 4% to $43.70. This morning, the media giant released its third-quarter update and reported a 9% jump in third quarter revenue to US$2.19 billion. Growing at a stronger rate was its net income from continuing operations, which increased 13% to US$121 million. Management advised that News Corp’s Digital Real Estate Services and Dow Jones segments helped drive its strong result. They both reported double-digit growth for the quarter.

REA Group Ltd (ASX: REA)

The REA Group share price is up 2% to $178.33. This has been driven by the release of the property listings company’s third-quarter update. REA Group posted an 11% increase in revenue to $398 million and a 16% jump in EBITDA to $220 million. REA Group’s CEO, Cameron McIntyre, said: “REA Group’s third quarter performance reflects our focus on enhancing our immersive consumer experiences, and increasing the value delivered to customers. The result was underpinned by double digit revenue growth across our Australian businesses and strong double-digit yield growth in our core residential business.”

TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE)

The TechnologyOne share price is up 3% to $28.26. This appears to have been driven by a broker note out of Bell Potter. This morning, the broker upgraded the enterprise software provider’s shares to a buy rating with an improved price target of $31.75. Bell Potter said: “Technology One announced a new contract with James Cook University (JCU) last month which in our view is significant from a product perspective. […] On the back of this contract win and clear demonstration of “the power of Plus” we have modestly increased our ARR forecasts in each period.”

The post Why Block, News Corp, REA Group, and TechnologyOne shares are storming higher today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 7 ASX 200 shares just upgraded this week
• Why QBE, Block and Macquarie shares are grabbing headlines on Friday
• REA shares rise as investors look past a rough year
• What’s the UBS call on News Corp shares after a strong quarterly result?
• Afterpay and Square owner Block shares jump 6% on strong results

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

With just a few hours of trade left in the week, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is virtually flat since last Friday’s closing bell, but don’t blame these three surging ASX 200 stocks.

One of this week’s outperformers is involved in the critical metals space, the second is investing in AI infrastructure, and the third is a major Aussie gold miner.

Which outperforming ASX 200 stocks am I talking about?

I’m glad you asked!

Capricorn Metals Ltd (ASX: CMM) shares continue strong momentum

First up we have Capricorn Metals.

Shares in the ASX gold miner closed last Friday trading for $11.77. At time of writing, shares are changing hands for $13.65 apiece. That puts this ASX 200 stock up 16.0% in this weeks’ flat market.

There was no fresh price sensitive news out from Capricorn Metals this week.

But the stock will have enjoyed an improving gold price and outlook amid rising hopes for a Middle East peace deal this week.

Capricorn Metals released its quarterly results after market close on 28 April.

With the miner reporting record quarterly cash flow from operations of $143.1 million and declaring its first ever dividend, investor interest remained strong this week.

Moving on…

ASX 200 stock Infratil Ltd (ASX: IFT) rockets on data centre news

The second best performing ASX 200 stock on my list for the week is infrastructure investment company Infratil.

Infratil shares closed last week trading for $10.45 and are currently trading for $12.42, up 18.9%.

Most of those gains were delivered on Wednesday.

Infratil shares closed up 15.0% on the day after announcing that data centre operator CDC had inked a 30-year contract for 555MW in new data centre capacity with a major United States customer.

Infratil is the largest shareholder in CDC.

Investors reacted positively to Wednesday’s announcement, which amounts to Australia’s largest data centre contract in history. Indeed, the contract is equivalent to some 40% of Australia’s total data centre capacity in 2025.

Commenting on the contract that sent the ASX 200 stock surging on Wednesday, Infratil CEO Jason Boyes said:

This contract reflects the strong global track record CDC has established in delivering large-scale, future-proofed and sustainable data centre campuses, and consolidates its position as the largest data centre provider across Australia and New Zealand.

Which brings us to…

IperionX Ltd (ASX: IPX) shares attract director interest

The best performing ASX 200 stock on my list for the week is titanium products producer IperionX.

IperionX shares closed last Friday at $4.50. At time of writing, shares are swapping hands for $5.59, up 24.2% in this week’s flat market.

There was no fresh price sensitive news out from IperionX this week. But investor interest remains strong, with the company potentially enjoying long-term support from increased global defence spending, ramping up demand for critical metals.

Investors may also have noted that the company’s directors have been snapping up shares.

As The Motley Fool reported last Friday, IperionX executive chairman Todd Hannigan bought $2.07 million worth of shares in late April. And CEO Anastasios Arima also bought more shares, valued at some $494,000.

The post 3 ASX 200 stocks storming higher in this week’s flat market appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Why DigiCo, HMC Capital, Infratil, and Qantas shares are taking off today
• Why is this $10 billion ASX stock racing 12% higher today?
• Infratil shares: CDC inks Australia’s largest data centre contract

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.

In afternoon trade, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is on course to end the week in the red. At the time of writing, the benchmark index is down 1.7% to 8,726.5 points.

Four ASX shares that are falling more than most today are listed below. Here’s why they are dropping:

Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG)

The Macquarie share price is down 1.5% to $238.24. This follows the release of the investment bank’s full-year results, which have been overshadowed by a market selloff. Macquarie reported net profit after tax of $4.85 billion for FY 2026, which is up 30% on FY 2025. This was driven by a very strong second half, with net profit coming in at $3.19 billion. This was a record half-year result and represented a 93% increase on the first half.

QBE Insurance Group Ltd (ASX: QBE)

The QBE Insurance share price is down 1.5% to $22.28. Investors have been selling the insurance giant’s shares following the release of its quarterly update. QBE reported gross written premium (GWP) growth of 11% year-on-year. However, taking some of the shine off the result was its net cost of catastrophe claims. It was approximately $300 million for January to April. This reflects multiple events in Australia and storms in the Northern Hemisphere.

Tabcorp Holdings Ltd (ASX: TAH)

The Tabcorp share price is down a further 10% to 79 cents. Investors have been selling this gambling company’s shares amid news that it has become the subject of an AUSTRAC enforcement investigation. This relates to anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing compliance. AUSTRAC has stated that the investigation is at an early stage and its approach will be determined once sufficient evidence has been collected and assessed. Tabcorp’s CEO, Gillon McLachlan, said: “I am committed to leading a compliant and safe company that understands its risk obligations. Uplifting our risk capability has been an ongoing part of the Company’s transformation and we will work constructively with AUSTRAC through this process.”

Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC)

The Westpac share price is down 4% to $37.70. This has been driven by the banking giant’s shares going ex-dividend this morning. This month, the big four bank released its half-year results and declared a 77 cents per share fully franked dividend. Eligible shareholders can now look forward to receiving this next month on 26 June.

The post Why Macquarie, QBE, Tabcorp, and Westpac shares are dropping today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 7 ASX 200 shares just upgraded this week
• New Macquarie dividend: Here’s everything you need to know
• The ASX 200 just suffered its biggest fall in 7 weeks. Here’s what’s going on
• Why is the Westpac share price falling today?
• Why QBE, Block and Macquarie shares are grabbing headlines on Friday

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 positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and 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.

S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares are 1.6% lower at 8,733.6 points on Friday.

Every one of the 11 market sectors is in the red today.

Losses range from 0.03% for the ASX communications sector to 2.47% for property shares.

The world is waiting for Iran’s response to a US peace plan that would end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Meanwhile, brokers have indicated new confidence in several ASX 200 shares with rating upgrades this week.

Let’s take a look.

Lottery Corporation Ltd (ASX: TLC)

The Lottery Corporation share price is $5.33, down 0.5% today.

This ASX 200 consumer discretionary share has risen 2% in the year to date (YTD).

Morgans upgraded Lottery Corporation shares from hold to accumulate yesterday.

The broker raised its 12-month price target from $5.70 to $6, suggesting 12% upside from here.

Morgans said:

The Lottery Corporation (TLC) has secured a 40-year extension of its Victorian Public Lottery Licence to 30 June 2068, paying a $1.145bn upfront premium funded entirely by debt.

The duration and timing of the renewal was a mild surprise given the licence was historically offered on 10-year terms and wasn’t expiring until June 2028.

We view the deal as strategically positive, but near-term earnings absorb the cost. 

Light & Wonder Inc (ASX: LNW)

The Light & Wonder share price is $110.18, up 7.3% today.

Over the past month, this ASX 200 gaming share has fallen 13%.

Morgans upgraded Light & Wonder shares to a buy rating yesterday.

The broker shaved its 12-month price target from $140 to $138.

This implies a healthy potential 25% upside ahead.

ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ)

The ANZ share price is $36.87, down 1.3% today.

Over the past month, this ASX 200 bank share has fallen 3.8%.

Morgans upgraded ANZ shares from a sell to trim rating this week.

The broker lifted its 12-month price target by 4% to $31.85.

This suggests a potential 13% downside ahead.

After reviewing the bank’s 1H FY26 results, Morgans said:

1H26 revenues were flat on an underlying basis, but cost decline and credit impairment charges were better than expected.

Target price increased 4% to $31.85/sh, given 3-6% earnings upgrades and decision to recommence neutralising the DRP.

National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB)

The NAB share price is $38.53, down 2.5% today.

Over the past month, this ASX 200 financial share has fallen 13.5%.

Morgans upgraded NAB shares from a sell to a trim rating this week.

The broker lifted its 12-month price target by 4% to $36.10.

This implies a potential 6% moderation ahead.

Morgans said 1H FY26 earnings “were a mixed bag and a touch below expectations”.

Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC)

The Westpac share price is $37.84, down 1.9% for multiple reasons on Friday.

Over the past month, this ASX 200 bank share has fallen 9.8%.

Morgans upgraded Westpac shares from a sell to a trim rating this week.

The broker cut its price target by 3% to $33.07, implying a 13% fall ahead.

Morgans commented on Westpac’s 1H FY26 results:

Strong volume momentum but earnings leverage dissipated with margin compression and credit risk pressures.

TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE)

The TechnologyOne share price is $28.37, up 3.4% on Friday.

Over the past month, this ASX 200 tech share has fallen 3.6%.

Bell Potter upgraded TechnologyOne shares to a buy rating yesterday.

The broker raised its 12-month price target from $31 to $31.75, suggesting 12% upside ahead.

Atlas Arteria Ltd (ASX: ALX)

The Atlas Arteria share price is $4.80, down 0.1% today.

This ASX 200 industrials stock surged recently on news of a hostile takeover bid from IFM Investors.

Atlas Arteria’s independent directors have recommended that investors reject the $4.75 per share offer.

Morgans upgraded Atlas Arteria shares from trim to hold this week.

The broker said:

ALX recommended its investors ignore IFM’s hostile off-market takeover bid, citing the offer price as too low, the timing opportunistic, and the offer highly conditional. It also disclosed it initiated a sale process for its interest in Chicago Skyway which, if successful, could be value accretive (at least to our valuation).

While the Chicago Skyway divestment process is underway we moderate our rating from TRIM to HOLD given potential for value realisation above what we consider to be the intrinsic value of the asset and hence driving our ALX valuation up close to where the share price is currently trading.

Morgans has a share price target of $4.22 on the toll roads operator.

This suggests a 12% downside from here.

The post 7 ASX 200 shares just upgraded this week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why Macquarie, QBE, Tabcorp, and Westpac shares are dropping today
• The ASX 200 just suffered its biggest fall in 7 weeks. Here’s what’s going on
• Why is the Westpac share price falling today?
• Down 35%: Is this ASX 200 share a strong buy now?
• ASX 200 tech stock upgraded by Bell Potter after AI contract win

Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Light & Wonder Inc, Technology One, and The Lottery Corporation. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Light & Wonder Inc, Technology One, and The Lottery Corporation. 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) likes to be a little bit different when it comes to its corporate schedule. Whilst most ASX 200 shares reported half-year earnings back in February or March, Macquarie has chosen to release its full-year earnings today, including the revelation of the latest Macquarie dividend, a good two months after most other ASX shares. These results cover the 12 months to 31 March 2026.

Strange calendar aside, Macquarie shares are faring a little worse than the broader market today (thus far anyway). At the time of writing, Macquarie stock is down 2.07% at just under $237 a share. That compares with the ASX 200’s current 1.67% sell-off.

This is despite some objectively solid numbers out of the ASX 200 financial stock.

As we covered earlier today, Macquarie posted a net profit after tax of $4.85 billion for the year, up a robust 30% on FY 2025’s profit. $3.19 billion of that profit came from the second half of the financial year, which was up 93% on the company’s first-half profit.

Overall, Macquarie posted earnings per share (EPS) of $12.77, up 30% on the prior year, helped by an improved return on equity metric of 14% (up from 11.2% in FY 2025).

But let’s talk about the new Macquarie dividend.

Macquarie announces massive new dividend

In a pleasing result for income investors in particular, Macquarie unveiled a monster dividend this morning. The company’s final dividend for FY 2026 will come in at $4.20 per share. That represents a 7.69% rise over last year’s final dividend of $3.90 per share. Together with December’s interim dividend of $2.80 per share, it takes Macquarie’s 12-month payouts to a flat $7 per share, a healthy 27.27% rise over the FY 2025 total of $5.50 per share.

This latest final dividend is the second-largest Macquarie has ever paid out, only topped by the $4.50 per share final dividend from 2023.

Like most Macquarie dividends, though, this payout will not come with full franking credits attached. It will be partially franked at 35%, in line with the company’s last three dividends. It represents a payout ratio of 50% of Macquarie’s profits for the half. The company’s $7 per share worth of dividends over FY2026 comes in at a payout ratio of 55%.

Investors who don’t yet own Macquarie shares (or wish to buy more) have a few days to secure this payout on any new purchases. Macquarie is scheduled to trade ex-dividend for this payout on 18 May later this month. Payment day will then roll around on 2 July.

Eligible investors also have until 20 May to elect to participate in Macquarie’s optional dividend reinvestment plan (DRP). That’s if they wish to receive additional Macquarie shares in lieu of a cash payment, of course.

At current pricing, Macquarie shares are trading on a trailing dividend yield of 2.83%. However, we can now give the company a nominal forward yield of 2.96%.

The post New Macquarie dividend: Here’s everything you need to know appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why Macquarie, QBE, Tabcorp, and Westpac shares are dropping today
• The ASX 200 just suffered its biggest fall in 7 weeks. Here’s what’s going on
• Why QBE, Block and Macquarie shares are grabbing headlines on Friday
• Macquarie shares slip despite FY26 profit jump
• Macquarie Group posts strong FY26 earnings growth

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

It has been a rough Friday for investors trading on the ASX.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is down 1.6% to 8,736 points at the time of writing, with most of the market trading in the red.

That has been enough to put the benchmark index to record its biggest one-day fall in 7 weeks. It also comes just one day after the ASX 200 climbed 0.96% to close at 8,878.1 points.

So, why are investors suddenly heading for the exits?

Oil price jump rattles investors

One of the main pressure points today is the rebound in oil prices.

According to Trading Economics, brent crude oil futures rose more than 2% to around US$102 a barrel after renewed concerns over reports of naval skirmishes involving the US and Iran in the Strait of Hormuz.

That is getting investors’ attention because the Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important oil shipping routes. Around 20% of global oil flows pass through the waterway, but this has been halted since March.

Oil prices have already been elevated over recent months, and higher fuel costs are already flowing through to transport, freight, and everyday goods.

Unfortunately, another jump in oil prices only adds to those inflation concerns, which is not what investors want to see.

Banks and miners drag the market lower

The selling is being led by some of the market’s biggest names.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) is down 2.37% to $174.98, while Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) is falling 3.94% to $37.79.

National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) is down 2.61% to $38.48, while ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) is trading 1.37% lower at $36.84.

Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG) is also weaker, falling 1.84% to $237.42.

The major miners are also adding to the pressure.

BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) is down 2.15% to $57.26, while Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) is down 1.43% to $177.67.

Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG) is also in the red, falling 1.14% to $21.175.

Foolish bottom line

Today’s fall shows how quickly the market can move when oil prices and geopolitical risks rise at the same time.

The ASX 200 had bounced strongly on Thursday, but that move has been completely unwound. With banks, miners, and retailers all under pressure, the selling has not been limited to one corner of the market.

The next thing to watch is whether the index can hold above the 8,700 point level.

The post The ASX 200 just suffered its biggest fall in 7 weeks. Here’s what’s going on appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why Macquarie, QBE, Tabcorp, and Westpac shares are dropping today
• 7 ASX 200 shares just upgraded this week
• New Macquarie dividend: Here’s everything you need to know
• Why is the Westpac share price falling today?
• Why QBE, Block and Macquarie shares are grabbing headlines on Friday

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 positions in and has recommended Macquarie 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.