Author: openjargon

The Australian share market has not exactly been a one-way ticket higher lately.

Plenty of investors have been dealing with a choppy S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), stretched bank valuations, weaker technology sentiment, and plenty of uncertainty around interest rates, inflation, and global markets.

Yet hidden beneath the broader market noise, one ASX small cap has been quietly doing something very different.

At the time of writing, Tasmea Ltd (ASX: TEA) shares have surged more than 120% over the past 12 months, including a sharp rise of more than 20% in just the past few weeks.

That is a very different outcome to the broader market. As a rough benchmark, the iShares Core S&P/ASX 200 ETF (ASX: IOZ), which tracks the ASX 200, is up only around 2.3% over the same 12-month period, excluding dividends.

So, what is going on?

The boring business delivering exciting returns

Tasmea is not a flashy technology company. It is not riding an artificial intelligence boom. It is not promising to reinvent finance, healthcare, or mining.

Instead, it provides specialist trade services to essential Australian industries.

The company operates across maintenance, shutdowns, emergency breakdown work, brownfield upgrades, and labour solutions. Its customers include asset owners across mining and resources, oil and gas, infrastructure, defence, water, power, renewables, telecommunications, and other critical industries.

In plain English, Tasmea helps keep important physical assets running.

That might not sound exciting. However, the share market often becomes interested when a business combines practical demand, strong execution, and rising earnings.

Tasmea appears to be doing exactly that.

Earnings growth is doing the heavy lifting

One reason Tasmea shares have been charging higher is simple: the company is growing quickly.

In FY25, Tasmea reported statutory revenue growth of 37% to $547.9 million, operating earnings (statutory EBIT) growth of 60% to $74.4 million, and net profit after tax growth of 74% to $53.1 million.

Importantly, earnings per share (EPS) rose 53% to 23.2 cents.

That matters because EPS growth is one of the cleanest ways to measure whether shareholders are actually participating in a company’s growth. Revenue growth is nice. Net profit growth is very nice. EPS growth is often nicer again.

The company has also guided for further strong growth in FY26. Based on its previously stated guidance, EPS is expected to move towards around 30 cents per share, implying another significant step higher.

That is before investors fully consider the potential longer-term benefits from the WorkPac acquisition.

Why WorkPac could matter

Tasmea completed the acquisition of WorkPac Group in December 2025.

WorkPac is a workforce solutions business, and the strategic logic is fairly clear. Tasmea already operates in industries where skilled labour is critical. By adding WorkPac, the company strengthens its ability to source, mobilise, and deploy labour across its existing operating divisions.

This could help Tasmea support organic growth, improve labour certainty, and potentially unlock synergies over time.

Of course, acquisitions come with risk. Integration has to be managed carefully. The business also needs to keep winning work, maintaining margins, and avoiding the temptation to grow just for the sake of size.

However, if management executes well, WorkPac could make Tasmea a more powerful platform than the market appreciated a year ago.

The small-cap sweet spot

This is where Tasmea becomes interesting from a long-term investing perspective.

Small caps that successfully grow into mid-cap or large-cap businesses can potentially reward shareholders in two ways.

First, earnings can grow. That means the underlying business becomes more valuable over time.

Second, the market may eventually decide the business deserves a higher valuation multiple. That can happen when investors gain confidence in the quality, durability, and scale of the company’s earnings.

That combination — earnings growth plus multiple expansion — can be powerful.

Foolish takeaway

Tasmea shares have already had a huge run, so investors should not ignore the risks.

The stock is no longer undiscovered. Expectations are rising. Any slowdown in earnings growth, acquisition misstep, margin pressure, or weakness in end-market demand could lead to volatility.

However, Tasmea remains a useful reminder that strong returns do not always come from the loudest corners of the market.

Sometimes they come from underappreciated businesses doing essential work, growing earnings, and steadily building scale in the background.

The post Could this surging ASX small cap still be hiding in plain sight? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Are these ASX shares a buy, hold or sell after rocketing to record highs last week?

Motley Fool contributor Leigh Gant has positions in Tasmea. 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

Westpac Banking Corporation (ASX: WBC) shares are sliding on Wednesday as investors weigh up another regulatory headache for the ‘big four’ bank.

At the time of writing, the Westpac share price is down 1.78% to $35.96.

It continues a softer start to the year for the banking giant. Westpac shares are now down around 7% in 2026, despite still sitting about 13% higher over the past 12 months.

The selling follows court findings over how the bank handled some customers seeking financial hardship support.

Here’s what happened.

Westpac in trouble?

According to ASIC, Westpac failed to respond to more than 200 online hardship requests within the time required by law.

Those failures occurred over nearly 6 years, from 2017 to 2023.

The requests came from customers of Westpac and its subsidiaries, St George Bank, BankSA, and Bank of Melbourne.

These customers had told the bank they were experiencing financial hardship and were struggling to meet repayments on products including home loans, credit cards, personal loans, and car loans.

ASIC said some customers were seeking help after events such as domestic abuse, natural disasters, serious illness, or job loss.

Federal Court Justice Timothy McEvoy found Westpac had not acted deliberately. However, he said the bank’s conduct was “grossly negligent” and ordered the penalty.

Why investors are selling

Westpac has been ordered to pay a $26 million penalty, but the amount itself isn’t large compared with the bank’s earnings base.

Earlier this month, the bank reported first-half statutory net profit of $3.4 billion, up 3% on the prior corresponding period.

It also declared an interim dividend of 77 cents per share, fully franked, payable on 26 June 2026.

Nonetheless, the banks are already dealing with a more difficult backdrop. Investors are watching mortgage competition, funding costs, arrears, household budgets, and possible changes to housing policy.

A court ruling tied to hardship customers adds another uncomfortable headline at a time when the sector is already getting plenty of attention.

The bigger picture

Westpac said it had apologised to affected customers and was “deeply sorry” it let them down.

The bank said it has also completed a remediation program, including fee refunds, debt waivers, and compensation.

It said it has strengthened processes and upgraded its online hardship systems.

The question for investors is whether this is now largely behind the bank, or whether it keeps Westpac in the regulatory spotlight for longer.

Westpac still has plenty behind it, including a large mortgage book, a major retail deposit base, and a fully franked dividend.

But after a 7% fall this year, today’s court findings appear to have given investors another reason to stay cautious.

The post Westpac shares sink after court calls conduct ‘grossly negligent’ 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.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) was down 0.3% at 8,633 points at 11:30 am AEST today.

Over the following minutes, the benchmark index jumped 0.4% to 8,668 points to be up 0.1% for the day.

This comes as ASX 200 investors mull over the potential impacts of April’s inflation data, reported by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) at, you guessed it, 11:30 am.

Here’s what you need to know.

Inflation print juices ASX 200

ASX 200 investors are favouring their buy buttons after the ABS revealed that Australia’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 4.2% in the 12 months to April. That’s down from the 4.6% increase in annual inflation reported in March.

Housing was the largest factor behind the ongoing inflationary uptick, with housing costs up 6.3%. Transport costs were the second-largest driver, up 6.6% from last year. Notably, however, that was down from 8.9% in March as fuel prices have fallen from recent peak levels.

Sue-Ellen Luke, ABS head of prices statistics, noted:

The fall this month includes the halving of the fuel excise on 1 April. Automotive fuel prices are still 23.5% higher compared to February and before the impact of the Middle East conflict.

The impact of higher oil prices has also been seen in products and services with high freight and logistics costs, such as parcel delivery and building materials. This is reflected in price increases of 12.4% for postal services and 4.7% for new dwelling construction compared to 12 months ago.

Indeed, yesterday the ABS reported that fuel prices and supply availability have negatively impacted 72% of Australian businesses in recent months.

Commenting on the economic impacts of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz on Australian businesses, Tom Lay, ABS head of business statistics, said:

Businesses across all industries were impacted by rising fuel costs from global volatility and ongoing supply chain disruptions. One in six businesses experienced disruptions in their supply chain, with transport, logistics, agriculture and small businesses among those most affected.

ASX 200 investors should also keep a close eye on trimmed mean annual inflation, the RBA’s preferred gauge, which takes out certain volatile items.

Somewhat concerningly, trimmed mean inflation increased to 3.4% for the 12 months to April, up from 3.3% last month.

What this means for interest rates in Australia

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has already lifted interest rates three times in 2026 to combat resurgent inflation. The official cash rate currently stands at 4.35%, matching the highest level since December 2011.

Amid rising interest rates and sticky inflation, the ASX 200 is down 0.9% year to date.

As for what investors might expect from interest rates next, Josh Gilbert, lead analyst for APAC at eToro, noted that the focal point for the RBA will be the trimmed mean inflation print.

Gilbert said:

We’ve seen headline inflation thrown around over the last few months by energy prices and the fuel excise changes, but the RBA cares about what’s underneath.

Ultimately, that trimmed inflation number has been stubbornly above the top of the 2% to 3% target band for longer than anyone is comfortable with, and until that breaks decisively lower, the RBA can’t claim the job is done.

The RBA will announce its next interest rate decision on 16 June.

Stay tuned!

The post ASX 200 jumps as April’s inflation print eases RBA interest rate pressures appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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.

ASX mining shares have experienced a strong uptick so far in 2026, driven by surging commodity prices and soaring investor sentiment. Lithium has experienced a resurgence, while copper is outperforming. Even iron ore has remained surprisingly resilient.

Find out the latest update from commodity players Liontown Ltd (ASX: LTR), South32 Ltd (ASX: S32) and Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX: MIN) shares, and what brokers expect next.

Buy South32 shares

South32 shares are storming higher in Wednesday morning trade. At the time of writing, the commodities miner’s shares are up around 5% to $4.85 a piece. 

The latest increase means the ASX mining shares have now jumped over 20% following the company’s March 2026 quarterly update last week.

The shares are now up 37% year to date and are an impressive 57% higher than a year ago.

The latest rally comes off the back of the miners’ reported US$121 million increase in net cash for the quarter. Meanwhile, its Brazil Alumina site delivered record year-to-date production, up 5%.

As a diversified global miner, with exposure to several commodities including aluminium, copper, zinc, and manganese, South32 has benefited from investor demand for diversified exposure to commodities related to the energy transition. South32 is also attracting attention because it is less dependent on iron ore than other major miners. 

Market Index data shows brokers rate the ASX mining shares as a strong buy. Although after the latest strong rally, the current average target price of $4.89 implies a potential 1% upside at the time of writing.

Buy Mineral Resources shares

Mineral Resources shares are also climbing higher today. At the time of writing, the shares are up around 1% to $71.95 each. Mineral Resources shares have also flown 12% higher over the past week.

The shares are now 30% higher year to date and up a huge 202% over the past 12 months.

The ASX mining stock has a major exposure to lithium and has ridden the wave of soaring lithium carbonate prices through early 2026. Prices are now trading around the highest level since 2023, thanks to renewed and growing long-term demand for lithium batteries.

Last Tuesday, the miner confirmed it will restart operations at its 100%-owned Bald Hill lithium mine. The company said the decision follows a “significant and sustained recovery” in lithium prices.

The restart is expected to move quickly, too, with activity due to ramp up in late May before crushing and mining operations start in June. The lithium miner expects restart costs in the fourth quarter of FY26, totalling $20 million.

Brokers rate the ASX mining shares as a strong buy and tip a potential 2.8% upside to an average $74.60 target price at the time of writing.

Hold Liontown shares

Liontown shares have tumbled into the red on Wednesday morning. At the time of writing, the shares are down 0.2% to $2.32 a piece.

Despite the tumble, the lithium miner’s shares are still up 43% year to date and a massive 263% higher than 12 months ago.

Liontown has also ridden the lithium rebound as investors look toward the company’s production growth potential. Investors have leaned into Liontown shares on the pretence that it has a long-term ability to benefit from strong lithium pricing and expanding global EV demand.

The miner’s development pipeline and exposure to future supply chains have also attracted investor attention.

But, Liontown is practically a pure-play lithium miner and its assets are overwhelmingly lithium-focused. This means it is sensitive to and heavily dependent on lithium price trajectories. If the price rally starts to reverse, the business could be at risk.

After the latest rally, analyst sentiment for the ASX mining shares has softened. At the time of writing, brokers rate the stock as a hold, with an average target price of $1.99. That implies a 15% downside from here.

The post Liontown, South32 and Mineral Resources: Brokers rate 2 ASX mining shares as a buy and 1 to hold appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Mineral Resources shares hit two-year high on big lithium news
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• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today

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.

If you are looking for big potential returns, then it could be worth checking out the three ASX shares in this article.

That’s because the team at Morgans believes they could rise 9% to 27%. Here’s what the broker is saying:

Aroa Biosurgery Ltd (ASX: ARX)

This medical device company delivered an FY 2026 result that was in line with expectations.

In response, the broker has retained its buy rating on Aroa Biosurgery’s shares with an improved price target of 79 cents. Based on its current share price of 62 cents, this implies potential upside of 27%. It said:

ARX posted its FY26 result which was in line with the recently released trading update and our forecast. Higher sales and marketing spend in FY27 results in a flat EBITDA, however the benefits of this investment will be seen in FY28/29 where a significant step up is expected. As a result of changes to forecasts and the roll forward of our model, our target price increases to A$0.79 (from $0.77). We maintain a BUY recommendation.

Goodman Group (ASX: GMG)

Another ASX share that Morgans is positive on is industrial property company Goodman.

In response to its quarterly update, the broker has retained its buy rating with a $36.00 price target. Based on the current Goodman share price of $29.86, this implies potential upside of 20% for investors. Morgans commented:

Operationally the update was mixed, with pre-committed share, production rate and Yield On Cost (YOC) all relatively flat hoh. The structurally important note was management’s view that industry DC capex requirements likely exceed global capital market funding capacity, a backdrop that favours those with secured power, sites and locked-in capital partners. FY26 OEPSg guided to ‘at least 9%’ (prior 9%; MorgansF 9.2%; Consensus 9.8%), marginally up.

We partially reverse the discretionary discount applied in our March sector update (-10% to -5%) reflecting growing conviction in the capital-scarcity moat and peer pre-commit validation, noting that GMG’s own leading indicators have not yet inflected. BUY reiterated; TP to A$36.00/sh.

Infratil Ltd (ASX: IFT)

A third ASX share that Morgans has been looking at is infrastructure investment company Infratil.

The broker was pleased with its FY 2026 results, noting that earnings grew quicker than expected.

As a result, the broker has retained its accumulate rating with an increased price target of $13.80. Based on its current share price, this implies potential upside of approximately 9%.

Commenting on the company, Morgans said:

IFT’s FY26 result was strong with net proportionate EBITDA from continuing operations lifting ~11% YoY and coming in 4% ahead of our forecast. Proportionate capex was above our forecast. It lifted 17% YoY and is set to lift ~57% in FY27 as management recycles capital to reinvest in IFT’s key growth assets. Portfolio Asset Value lifted 13% YoY to NZ$20.6bn, in line with our expectations.

IFT declared a 13.65c final dividend, in line with earlier guidance. We retain our ACCUMULATE recommendation and lift our Target Price ~22% to $13.80, following CDC’s largest ever contract win.

The post Morgans says these ASX shares can rise 9% to 27% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

A new Vanguard survey has highlighted how younger Australians are getting more involved in investing.

According to the survey, 45% of Gen Z and Millennials say they invest in shares, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), or other financial products.

I think that is encouraging. The earlier someone starts investing, the more time they give compounding to do its work.

But for new and prospective Gen Z investors, I think the goal should be simplicity, diversification, and long-term growth. There is no need to build a complicated portfolio from day one.

Three Vanguard ASX ETFs I think could be strong options are named in this article.

Vanguard Global Technology Index ETF (ASX: VTEK)

I think the Vanguard Global Technology Index ETF could suit Gen Z investors.

I like this fund because technology is not just a sector anymore. It is becoming part of almost everything.

Work, shopping, entertainment, advertising, healthcare, finance, education, logistics, and communication are all being reshaped by digital tools. Artificial intelligence (AI) is accelerating that shift, but it is not the only driver.

The VTEK ETF gives investors exposure to a portfolio of global technology companies. This can include businesses involved in software, semiconductors, cloud computing, devices, digital platforms, and other parts of the technology ecosystem.

Importantly, this fund allows investors to benefit from the broader technology theme without needing to guess which individual tech giant will perform best.

It will inevitably be volatile at times. Technology shares can fall hard when valuations reset or interest rates rise. But for investors with decades ahead of them, I think long-term exposure to global technology makes sense.

Vanguard FTSE Asia Ex-Japan Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAE)

Another ASX ETF I like for Gen Z investors is the Vanguard FTSE Asia Ex-Japan Shares Index ETF.

Gen Z investors are likely to live through a world where Asia becomes even more important economically. Rising middle-class wealth, digital payments, e-commerce, manufacturing, technology platforms, and changing consumption patterns could all support long-term growth across the region.

The VAE ETF gives investors exposure to Asian share markets outside Japan. This can add a growth angle that is not easily found on the ASX.

It also helps avoid building a portfolio that is too dependent on Australia and the United States.

There are risks. Asian markets can be more volatile, and some countries have higher political, regulatory, and currency risks. This is not the ETF I would use as an entire portfolio. But as part of a diversified long-term approach, I think it could be useful.

Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF (ASX: VGS)

The popular Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF is another I would recommend to Gen Z investors.

It provides investors access to a broad portfolio of developed-market shares outside Australia. That includes companies from the United States, Europe, Japan, Canada, and other major markets.

I like this because many Australian investors start with local shares and never properly diversify overseas.

That can leave a portfolio heavily exposed to banks, miners, supermarkets, telcos, and local property. Those can be good sectors, but they do not represent the full global economy.

The VGS ETF helps solve that problem in one trade. It gives investors exposure to over a thousand global companies across many industries. For a young investor, that kind of broad base can be valuable because it reduces the pressure to get every individual stock pick right.

Foolish takeaway

Gen Z investors have one huge advantage that older investors cannot buy back: time.

That does not mean they need to chase every trend or take unnecessary risks. In fact, I think the smarter approach is to build a portfolio that can keep working quietly in the background for years.

ETFs like these can help with that. They provide access to global businesses, long-term growth themes, and markets beyond Australia without requiring constant tinkering.

The post 3 top ASX ETFs for Gen Z investors to buy appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

Nufarm Ltd (ASX: NUF) shares are pushing close to a 52-week high on Wednesday after the agriculture business released its FY 2026 half-year results.

At the time of writing, the Nufarm share price is up more than 11% to $2.85.

Today’s gain adds to a stronger recent run for the ASX agriculture stock, with Nufarm shares up more than 20% over the past month.

The last time Nufarm shares traded above this level was in July 2025.

Let’s take a closer look at the announcement.

Profit and cash flow improve

Nufarm reported statutory net profit after tax (NPAT) of $38 million for the half, up 28% on the prior corresponding period.

Underlying NPAT rose 35% to $52 million, while underlying EBITDA increased 18% to $243 million.

The company also reported a gross profit margin of 33%, up 3.7 percentage points.

Revenue was lower at $1.7 billion, down 5% year on year, but the market appears to be focusing more on margins, cash flow, and debt.

Free cash flow improved by $193 million compared with the prior corresponding period.

Net debt fell to $1.23 billion, down $135 million, while leverage improved to 3.6 times.

Nufarm said net debt to EBITDA reduced by 20% on the prior period.

Crop Protection leads the result

Crop Protection did most of the work in the first-half.

The division delivered underlying EBITDA of $223 million, up 18% on the prior corresponding period. On a constant currency basis, EBITDA rose 6%.

Nufarm attributed the improvement to a better product mix and tighter cost control.

Europe was the strongest region, with underlying EBITDA rising 19% to $113 million. The company said lower operating costs helped offset a softer revenue result.

North America also improved, with underlying EBITDA rising 11% in local currency. Nufarm pointed to strong volumes in the United States, a solid contribution from Crop Protection, and a strong result in Canada.

APAC was weaker, with underlying EBITDA down 15%. Dry conditions in Australia and currency impacts weighed on the region.

Seed Technologies has a better half

Seed Technologies also moved in the right direction.

The division delivered underlying EBITDA of $58 million, up from $27 million a year earlier.

Hybrid Seeds grew underlying EBITDA by 7%, with demand supported by edible oils and renewable fuels.

The bigger improvement came from Emerging Platforms, where the underlying EBITDA loss narrowed to $4 million. That compares with a $30 million loss in the prior corresponding period.

Omega-3 was the main driver of the improvement, with Nufarm also securing its first regulatory approval in Japan.

The company also reported progress across canola, carinata, and sorghum varieties, which remain part of its longer-term growth plans.

Why investors are picking up Nufarm shares

The stronger first half comes as Nufarm continues to tighten up the business.

Management said its strategy refresh is focused on capital allocation, cost discipline, earnings quality, and cash generation.

The company also reaffirmed its FY 2026 outlook for underlying EBITDA and leverage.

Nufarm expects positive free cash flow in FY 2026 and is targeting leverage of about 2 x net debt to underlying EBITDA by the end of FY 2026.

It is also targeting capital expenditure below $200 million.

The post Nufarm shares jump 11% as turnaround signs continue 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.

Eagers Automotive Ltd (ASX: APE) shares are under pressure today.

Shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) automotive retail group closed yesterday trading for $22.35. In morning trade on Wednesday, shares are swapping hands for $21.86 apiece, down 2.2%.

For some context, the ASX 200 is down 0.2% at this same time.

Taking a step back Eagers Automotive shares remain up 25% over the past 12 months, outpacing the 2.8% one -year gains posted by the benchmark index.

The ASX 200 stock also trades on a 3.5% fully franked trailing dividend yield.

Here’s what’s happening today.

Eagers Automotive shares saw record 2025 earnings

Investors are bidding down Eagers Automotive shares today, despite the company foreshadowing ongoing strength at its Annual General Meeting (AGM).

Taking a look at the company’s 2025 performance, which saw Eagers stock notch a record closing high of $34.73 a share on 13 October, CEO Keith Thornton noted that the company “delivered a series of highly consequential outcomes” over the year.

That includes its entry into Canada through Eager’s largest-ever investment in CanadaOne Auto; the formation of Eager’s strategic partnership with Mitsubishi Corporation; and a successful $452 million capital raise.

Impressively, the company also achieved more than $1.8 billion in revenue growth, up 16.5% year on year. And 2025 saw Eagers report record underlying earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of $620.9 million, up $70 million from the prior year.

What’s next for the ASX 200 stock?

Looking at what could impact Eagers Automotive shares in the months ahead, investors may be jittery today amid ongoing uncertainty from global events.

“While we remain mindful of external uncertainty, the underlying performance of the business is strong,” Thornton said.

Highlighting that strength, he noted that across Eager’s Australian and New Zealand businesses, year-to-date through to the end of April, turnover is up approximately 5% compared to the same period last year.

And the company’s order bank has grown by 70% since December.

According to Thornton:

Given our strong order bank, we will seek to maximise deliveries ahead of 30 June this year. However, supply constraints are creating some near-term uncertainty leading into the half year.

Eagers Automotive expects to deliver a first half (H1 2026) underlying profit before tax in line with, or slightly ahead of, H1 2025 across its Australia and New Zealand operations.

As for what investors might expect from Eagers Automotive shares in the second half, Thornton concluded:

Looking to the second half, the outlook is positive. We expect an uplift in deliveries, supported by improved supply through our scaled partnership with Toyota following a materially constrained first half.

Our substantial order bank and continued demand for new energy vehicles will further underpin second half performance. Our second half will also benefit from a full half contribution from CanadaOne, which has a similar second half skew expected from its Toyota operations, along with full half contributions from our recent Australian acquisitions.

The post Why are Eagers Automotive shares tumbling on Wednesday? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

Iron ore magnate Gina Rinehart has bankrolled the purchase of a 9.15% stake in Southern Cross Media Ltd (ASX: SXL) by former Seven Network commercial director Bruce McWilliam.

Loan agreement struck

Documents lodged with the ASX on Wednesday list Mr McWilliam as the owner of the shares, with Ms Rinehart’s company Hanrine Finance having a “security deed” – a loan agreement – over the shares.

Ms Rinehart has previously owned interests in Network Ten and Fairfax Media, and also has interests in listed mining companies such as Arafura Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: ARU).

Southern Cross Media merged with Seven West Media earlier this year in a deal worth $400 million, with the combined companies expected to realise $25 to $30 million in annual cost savings.

Seven West’s key brands at the time included the suite of Seven television channels, the newspaper The West Australian, and the free online publication The Nightly.

Southern Cross’s key brands were the Triple M radio network, the Hit network, and the audio streaming service, Listnr.

It is unclear at this stage what Mr McWilliam’s intentions regarding his stake are, although there is reported speculation that he could launch a full takeover bid or seek a board position at some point.

Media companies have struggled in recent years, with the value of both Southern Cross and Seven West falling from figures in the billions to just a couple of hundred million each before the merger went through.

New broom to usher in growth

Southern Cross recently announced the appointment of a new Managing Director, Rohan Lund, who joined the company from his previous role as head of the NRMA from 2016 to 2025, where he “led the organisation’s transformation into a diversified transport, tourism and services group, with a strong focus on digital capability, brand trust, sustainability and member experience”.

Mr Lund has also held roles as Chief Operating Officer of Foxtel, Group Chief Operating Officer of Seven West Media, founding Chief Executive Officer of Yahoo!7, and Chief Strategy Officer at Singtel Optus.

Chairman Heith Mackay- Cruise said of the appointment:

Rohan brings deep media experience, digital and technology‑enabled transformation capability, and values‑driven leadership skills. He has led complex organisations through significant change, while maintaining a strong focus on culture, trust and long‑term value creation. The Board is looking forward to working with Rohan to achieve our strategic objectives.

Southern Cross shares were 2.6% higher in early trade at 59.5 cents. The company is valued at $277.7 million.

The post Billionaire Gina Rinehart is behind the buy up of a big stake in which ASX media company? 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 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.

AGL Energy Ltd (ASX: AGL) shares are trading in the red again on Wednesday morning. At the time of writing the shares are down around 1% to $8.62 a piece.

The latest decline means the energy provider’s shares have now tumbled 19% from their peak. The share price is also down 8% for the year-to-date and 16% lower than this time last year.

It’s been a relatively volatile ride for AGL shares over the past year, with several surges and troughs which saw the shares swing anywhere between $8.03 to $10.60.

What caused the 19% selloff?

In February, AGL reported flat underlying EBITDA and a 6% decline in underlying net profit after tax. 

But investors were excited by the company’s upgraded FY26 guidance figures.  As part of the announcement, AGL forecast a full-year underlying EBITDA of $2.02 billion to $2.18 billion. Previously, the range was $1.92 billion to $2.22 billion.

Its underlying net profit guidance was also tightened to $580 million to $680 million, from a much wider range of $500 million to $700 million.

Within a few days, AGL shares had surged nearly 20%. 

But as quick as the share price climbed, it tumbled 16% by mid-March. 

Since then, the shares have zig zagged. Slumping sentiment, lower wholesale electricity prices and battery and grid uncertainty have been among AGL’s headwinds. 

Meanwhile, news of a binding Foundation Gas Sales Agreement (GSA) with Amplitude Energy Ltd (ASX: AEL), and updated guidance figures helped act as tailwinds.

AGL is now guiding underlying EBITDA between $2.06 billion and $2.18 billion, and underlying NPAT between $610 million and $680 million for FY26.

Now the question is, what can we expect next from AGL Energy shares?

Are AGL Energy shares a buy, sell or hold?

Analyst outlook for AGL Energy shares over the next 12 months is incredibly mixed.

TradingView data shows that five out of eight analysts have a buy or strong buy rating on the stock. Another two rate AGL Energy shares as a hold and one has a strong sell rating.

Over on Market Index, three brokers are split between a buy, hold and sell stance.

However, consensus is still for an upside ahead.

The average $11.02 target price implies a $28% upside at the time of writing. Although some think the shares could slump 8% to $9.28 and others think it could rocket 48% higher to $12.76.

Shaw and Partners is one broker which currently rates the energy giant as a hold. It said that while there are positives, it is concerned about the challenges that AGL energy faces when it comes to asset transitions and evolving policy settings. The broker adds that earnings stability has improved, but execution risk still remains.

Elsewhere, Ord Minnett has a buy rating on AGL. The broker thinks the market underappreciates the pace and scale of AGL’s transition strategy.

The post AGL Energy shares tumble 19% from their peak: Buy, sell or hold? 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.