Category: Stock Market

If you are looking to add to your income portfolio this month, then read on.

That’s because listed below are two ASX dividend shares that Morgans rates as buys. Here’s what it is saying about them and what sort of dividend yields it is forecasting:

Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT)

Morgans is bullish on this travel agent giant and sees it as an ASX dividend share to snap up this month. It has a buy rating and $18.05 price target on its shares. It thinks its shares are cheap based on its FY 2027 forecasts. It said:

FLT’s 1H26 NBPT was up 4.1%, a beat on guidance for a flat result. The Corporate result was the highlight with NPBT was up 20%, while Leisure was better than feared down only 4%. The 3Q26 is off to a strong start and importantly Leisure is back in growth. FY26 guidance was reiterated. We have made minor upgrades to our forecasts. FLT’s fundamentals remain attractive (FY27 PE of 10.6x) and we retain a Buy recommendation with a new A$18.05 price target.

As for income, the broker is forecasting fully franked dividends of 47 cents per share in FY 2026 and then 54 cents per share in FY 2027. Based on its current share price of $11.40, this would mean dividend yields of 4.1% and 4.7%, respectively.

Iress Ltd (ASX: IRE)

Another ASX dividend share that Morgans is positive on is financial technology company Iress. The broker recently upgraded its shares to a buy rating with a $10.95 price target. It said:

IRE delivered a solid FY25 result with underlying EBITDA of A$136.2m, +4.7% ahead of our estimate, and the group’s FY25 guidance range. Divisionally each segment delivered solid EBITDA growth half on half, with APAC Wealth up +24.5%, UK Wealth +46%, and GTMD +8.6%. FY26 Cash EBITDA guidance (underlying EBITDA less capex) was provided at A$116-126m (representing 15-26% growth YoY).

IRE flagged that capex for FY26 will remain in line with FY25, which implies further operating leverage is expected. We upgrade our underlying EBITDA forecasts by +5-6%, which sees our price target increase to $10.95 from $10.50. With over 50% implied TSR, we move to a BUY rating from ACCUMULATE.

With respect to income, the broker is forecasting dividends of 28 cents per share in FY 2026 and then 33 cents per share in FY 2027. Based on the current Iress share price of $6.90, this would mean dividend yields of 4.1% and 4.8%, respectively.

The post Morgans names 2 ASX dividend shares to buy now appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• 5 ASX dividend stocks to buy with $25,000 in March
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Tuesday
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• 32 ASX shares about to go ex-dividend

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

Collins Foods Ltd (ASX: CKF) shares are slipping today.

Shares in the S&P/ASX 300 Index (ASX: XKO) KFC fast food restaurant operator closed yesterday trading for $9.92. In morning trade on Friday, shares are changing hands for $9.87 apiece, down 0.5%.

For some context, the ASX 300 is down 0.4% at this same time.

This modest underperformance comes amid news that the company has agreed to settle a long-standing class action.

Here’s what we know.

Collins Foods shares slide on $9 million settlement

Collins Foods shares are in the red this morning after the KFC operator announced that it has entered into a binding heads of agreement with the applicants of the proceedings to settle the employee class action.

The legal action, which regards 10-minute employee rest breaks, was commenced against Collins Foods and other respondents in December 2023.

The company reported that it has agreed to pay up to $9 million to settle the matter, subject to approval by the Federal Court of Australia.

Collins Foods made no admission of liability.

What else has been happening with the ASX 300 fast food stock?

Yesterday was a big day for the KFC operator, with Collins Foods shares closing up 5.2%.

Investors responded favourably to the company’s announcement, released after market close on Wednesday, revealing its expansion plans in Germany.

Collins Foods said it has inked an agreement with JJ Restaurant to acquire eight KFC restaurants near Munich for approximately $50 million, plus working capital.

As for the return on that investment, management forecast around $46 million in revenue over the first full year of ownership. The company expects to deliver earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of around $9 million over the first 12 months.

“There is a significant growth opportunity for Collins Foods in the German market, and we are pleased to be executing on our expansion in a disciplined manner,” Collins Foods CEO Xavier Simonet said.

Having secured an expansion of its German development agreements, the company is now aiming to open 45 to 90 new restaurants in the next four years.

Simonet noted:

The KFC brand has substantial potential in Germany with approximately a fifth of the store footprint of the largest competitor, McDonald’s. Despite lower restaurant density, KFC enjoys strong brand awareness and consumer appeal in Germany, supporting a compelling opportunity to expand our market presence.

How have Collins Foods shares been performing?

Collins Foods shares are up 19.8% over the past 12 months, outpacing the 11.1% gains delivered by the benchmark index.

The post KFC owner Collins Foods shares sliding today on class action news appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why Collins Foods, St George Mining, Whitehaven Coal, and Woodside shares are pushing higher today
• Guess which ASX 200 stock is rocketing 11% on big Euro news
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• ASX retail shares: Experts rate 2 to buy and 2 to sell

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

Shares in Australian graphite producers have fallen on Friday after the US International Trade Commission (ITC) disallowed major tariffs on products out of China, reversing a previous determination.

Shares in Syrah Resources Ltd (ASX: SYR) and Novonix Ltd (ASX: NVX) fell on the news on Friday, trading 22.9% and 5% lower, respectively.

Early win stoked hopes

Syrah Resources shares got a boost in early February after the US Department of Commerce confirmed it would place huge tariffs of between 160% and 170% on graphite active anode material (AAM) coming out of China, in a bid to protect the local US industry.

Syrah is part of a lobby group, the North American Graphite Alliance, which had petitioned the US government to investigate whether Chinese graphite active anode material (AAM) producers were being subsidised by the Chinese government.

Syrah said in February that the Department of Commerce (DOC) had determined this was the case.

In its final determination, DOC confirmed that major Chinese battery and graphite AAM producers are “de facto” controlled by the Chinese government and therefore subject to the China-wide dumping rate. The antidumping and countervailing duty (AD/CVD) measures will apply to all natural and synthetic graphite AAM products and AAM contained in blended materials, components (e.g. anode slurries) and subassemblies (e.g. electrodes) imported into the United States from China.

This decision has now been overturned by the ITC.

Syrah stands by earlier statements

Syrah said on Friday it still believed that AAM from China was being sold and imported into the US at “unfairly low and subsidised prices for use in lithium-ion batteries and that this has been detrimental to the establishment and operations of a domestic AAM industry in the US”.

The company added:

There remain existing and potential US import tariffs on Chinese natural graphite and synthetic graphite AAM, including tariffs effective under Section 301 and Section 122 of the Trade Act, and tariffs being considered under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act. Further policy implementation under the US Administration’s critical minerals and national security agenda continues to encourage ex-China and domestic US sourcing strategies for AAM.

Syrah said the ITC determination could delay sales from its Vidalia facility in the US and limit near-term demand growth for AAM produced in the US.

The company added:

Syrah’s Vidalia AAM facility is producing high-quality AAM and has full readiness for commercial ramp-up. The facility is cost competitive with Chinese and Indonesian when producing at commercial AAM volumes. The Company will continue to pursue the ramp-up of production at Vidalia and commercial AAM sales with customers.

Syrah said it was also considering whether there were grounds for appeal.

The post Syrah Resources shares tumble after major US tariff hit appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• KFC owner Collins Foods shares sliding today on class action news
• Game over? ASX biotech stock crashes 90% on big bad news
• Northern Star shares crash 16% on second guidance downgrade for FY26
• Experts like this ASX share which expects to grow its profit by at least 20% this year!
• 2 ASX growth shares tipped to double in value

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.

It looks like it will be a day to forget for owners of Immutep Ltd (ASX: IMM) shares on Friday.

In morning trade, the ASX biotech stock is down a massive 93% to 2.8 cents.

Why is this ASX biotech stock having a day to forget?

Investors have been rushing to the exits in their droves on Friday after the late-stage biotechnology company released an update on the TACTI-004 Phase III study.

TACTI-004 is a randomised, double-blind, controlled Phase III study evaluating eftilagimod alfa (efti), a first-in-class MHC Class II agonist, in combination with Merck & Co’s anti-PD-1 therapy, KEYTRUDA, and chemotherapy.

It is being evaluated as a first-line therapy for patients with advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer with no EGFR, ALK or ROS1 genomic tumour aberrations.

Patients were being randomised 1:1 to receive either efti in combination with pembrolizumab and chemotherapy in the treatment arm or pembrolizumab in combination with chemotherapy and placebo in the control arm. The study’s dual primary endpoints were progression-free survival and overall survival.

What’s the latest?

This morning, the ASX biotech stock revealed that the Independent Data Monitoring Committee (IDMC) for the TACTI-004 Phase III study has recommended the discontinuation of the trial following a planned interim futility analysis in accordance with the study protocol.

This followed a review of the available safety and efficacy data.

In response to the IDMC’s recommendation, Immutep advised that enrolment in the study will be halted and the company will implement an orderly wind-down of the study, including appropriate patient follow-up and site close-out in accordance with regulatory and ethical obligations.

Commenting on the news, the ASX biotech stock’s CEO, Marc Voigt, said:

We are very disappointed and surprised with the outcome of the futility analysis, in light of efti’s performance in every other clinical trial. We would like to thank the patients, investigators, and clinical teams who contributed to this important study. We are currently conducting a comprehensive review of the available data to better understand the results and determine the appropriate next steps for the program.

Is it game over?

The company advised that despite this massive setback, it remains focused on advancing its pipeline of therapies including efti.

Following the discontinuation of TACTI-004, Immutep now anticipates its cash runway will be extended well beyond the previously guided timeframe of the second quarter of 2027, which was set prior to the trial’s cessation.

It intends to provide an updated outlook on its revised cash runway and will reassess capital allocation priorities once operational assessments and a full analysis of the study data have been finalised.

The post Game over? ASX biotech stock crashes 90% on big bad news appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why the Immutep share price is halted today

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 Merck. 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.

Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) shares are falling heavily on Friday morning.

At the time of writing, the gold mining giant’s shares are down 16% to $22.46.

Why are Northern Star shares falling?

Investors have been selling the gold miner’s shares this morning following the release of an operational update.

That update revealed that management believes achieving the lower end of its downgraded FY 2026 production guidance will be challenging.

According to the release, Northern Star has experienced weaker performance over the last two months. This has been driven largely by weaker-than-planned milling performance at the KCGM operation and reduced mining productivity across several operating areas, particularly at Jundee.

The company revealed that total gold sales for January and February were 220,000 ounces.

While several factors will continue to influence the final result, Northern Star currently expects FY 2026 production to come in above 1.5 million ounces. However, the outcome will depend heavily on mill throughput at KCGM, which management says continues to be highly variable.

This compares to its most recent guidance of 1.6 million to 1.7 million ounces, which was downgraded from 1.7 million to 1.85 million ounces.

KCGM expansion

Northern Star also provided an update on the KCGM Mill Expansion Project, which it says remains on track for commissioning in early FY 2027.

Management revealed that the company has increased labour on the project to offset lower-than-planned productivity and protect the commissioning timeline. Approximately 800 contractors are currently working on the plant and another 400 contractors are completing enabling works.

But until the expanded mill comes online, operations will remain dependent on the existing mill, where performance has been highly variable.

Northern Star’s managing director and CEO, Stuart Tonkin, said:

Front of mind for Management and the Board is that efforts to achieve the FY26 forecast do not compromise the transition to the new plant and have negative implications for Q1 next year. To deal with that concern, Management’s focus over the next four months will be to set the Company up to achieve its full potential from the start of FY27 and not on the achievement of short-term guidance above all else. The production focus over this period will be on extracting ounces in the most effective way, from both a cost and mining efficiency perspective.

Looking ahead, Northern Star advised that it has commenced work on producing medium term forecasts. It expects to release these forecasts prior to the end of the year. Tonkin adds:

We have heard the clear feedback from our investors on the importance of a more granular understanding of the medium-term production, cost and capital outlook for our asset base. This work is underway and we are committed to presenting this information to the market later this year.

The post Northern Star shares crash 16% on second guidance downgrade for FY26 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday
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• Australia’s next great ASX mining boom: Are we already in it?

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.

The ASX share GemLife Communities Group (ASX: GLF) could be a compelling business to own for the foreseeable future because of the potential for its earnings to grow.

Fund managers at Wilson Asset Management picked the business as one to keep an eye on. It was one of the largest 20 positions in the portfolio of listed investment company (LIC) WAM Research Ltd (ASX: WAX) at the end of February 2026.

WAM Research aims to own the most compelling undervalued growth opportunities in the Australian market. It also holds stocks such as Aussie Broadband Ltd (ASX: ABB), Gentrack Group Ltd (ASX: GTK) and Tuas Ltd (ASX: TUA).

Let’s take a look at why GemLife is an attractive business to own.

What does GemLife do?

The ASX share is not one of the most well-known businesses on the ASX. The fund manager described the business as an Australian ‘pureplay’ developer, builder, owner and operator in Australia’s land lease community (LLC) sector, delivering resort-style communities for homeowners aged 50 and over.

WAM notes that it has more than 30 communities and projects across Australia, primarily spanning Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria.

FY25 result

The fund manager was pleased to see that the business announced a “positive” FY25 result in February, reporting robust growth and declaring that its performance had exceeded prospectus forecasts.

Revenue grew by 5.8% to $281.7 million, underlying operating profit (EBITDA) climbed by 9.4% to $110 million, and underlying net profit increased 10.1% to $90 million.

WAM also highlighted that GemLife announced positive capital management initiatives, refinancing existing debt to improve the organisation’s balance sheet.

Its $700 million debt facility was originally scheduled to mature in June 2029. This has been refinanced into three tranches with staggered maturities. The cost of debt was also renegotiated, reducing the overall cost by 25 basis points (0.25%) compared to the previous facility.

Positive outlook for the ASX share

Turning to FY26, the business is focused on delivering active sites, providing identifiable earnings growth over the coming years.

It’s expecting its underlying earnings per security (EPS) to grow by between 20% to 27% in 2026, reaching between 28.5 cents and 30 cents.

Upfront infrastructure works are expected to be delivered at several new communities, leading to a greater number of active projects contributing to settlements from FY27 onwards.

At 31 December 2025, there were 300 homes completed or under construction, up from 260 at 30 June 2025. It expects to settle over 420 homes in FY26, though the focus will continue to be on underlying earnings and profitability to support the ASX share’s organic growth strategy.

The post Experts like this ASX share which expects to grow its profit by at least 20% this year! appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• KFC owner Collins Foods shares sliding today on class action news
• Syrah Resources shares tumble after major US tariff hit
• Game over? ASX biotech stock crashes 90% on big bad news
• Northern Star shares crash 16% on second guidance downgrade for FY26
• 2 ASX growth shares tipped to double in value

Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in Tuas. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Aussie Broadband and Gentrack Group and is short shares of Aussie Broadband. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Gentrack Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Aussie Broadband. 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 few rough months for these 2 ASX growth shares. Temple & Webster Group Ltd (ASX: TPW) and Xero Limited (ASX: XRO) have tumbled 51% and 31% so far this year respectively.

For long-term investors, market pullbacks can sometimes create attractive entry points into companies with strong competitive positions and large growth opportunities.

For that reason, these 2 ASX growth shares could be worth a closer look today.

Temple & Webster Group: largest pure-play online retailer

The ASX growth share plummeted almost 8% to $6.83 on Thursday. This appears to be driven by concerns about how the war in the Middle East could affect the online furniture and homewares retailer.

Surging shipping costs have raised fears that profitability could come under pressure in the second half of FY2026.

The latest fears add to earlier concerns about slowing growth and margin pressure. Heavy discounting and marketing spending have squeezed profitability, leading to earnings that missed analyst expectations in recent results.

However, the fact remains that Temple & Webster is Australia’s largest pure-play online retailer focused on furniture and homewares.The ASX growth share operates a marketplace model that connects suppliers with customers. This allows the business to scale its product range without the heavy inventory costs faced by traditional retailers.

The company’s long-term strategy is centred on capturing market share in a fragmented industry. Management is targeting more than $1 billion in annual revenue by FY2028.

Revenue momentum has remained strong, with the business reporting nearly 20% sales growth in the first half of FY26.

Despite concerns, many brokers remain optimistic about the long-term opportunity of the ASX growth share. Bell Potter is bullish, with a buy rating and a $13.00 price target. That implies potential upside of around 90% over the next 12 months.

Xero: US acquisition to accelerate growth

Xero is one of the world’s leading cloud accounting platforms for small businesses.

The $14 billion ASX growth share provides accounting, payroll, and financial management software through a subscription model that generates highly predictable recurring revenue. Today, Xero has more than 4 million subscribers globally, with strong positions in Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.

One of the biggest strengths of the business is its powerful ecosystem. By connecting accountants, small businesses, and financial service providers, the platform becomes more valuable as more users join.

Looking ahead, management is focused on expanding in the US, the world’s largest market for small-business accounting software. Its US$2.5 billion acquisition of payments platform Melio is designed to accelerate that strategy and strengthen its payments ecosystem.

That said, risks remain. International expansion can be expensive, and integrating acquisitions like Melio carries execution risk.

Analysts remain broadly positive on the ASX growth share. Analysts expect Xero’s earnings to grow at around 21% per year over the next few years, reflecting the long runway ahead for cloud accounting adoption globally.

The ASX growth share currently carries a buy consensus rating, with an average price target implying roughly 94% upside from current levels.

UBS is very bullish. It currently has a buy rating and $174.00 price target on Xero’s shares, which implies potential upside of over 120%.

Foolish Takeaway

Temple & Webster and Xero have both experienced sharp share price pullbacks, but their long-term growth stories remain largely intact.

For investors willing to tolerate some volatility, these two beaten-down ASX growth shares could potentially reward patient shareholders over the years ahead.

The post 2 ASX growth shares tipped to double in value appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Why EOS, GQG, Liontown, and Temple & Webster shares are tumbling today

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

Are you looking for exposure to lithium? Well, if you are, then it could be worth considering Liontown Ltd (ASX: LTR) shares.

That’s the view of analysts at Bell Potter, who remain bullish on the lithium miner following its half-year results release this week.

What is the broker saying?

Bell Potter notes that Liontown delivered a half-year result that was largely in line with expectations.

But the real highlight was its balance sheet reset, which it believes is a major positive. The broker explains:

LTR reported revenue of $208m, underlying EBITDA of -$8m (BP est. -$25m) and underlying NPAT of -$89m (BP est. -$98m). Statutory net loss after tax of -$184m includes a -$104m non-recurring, non-cash fair value movement on the LGES Convertible Note derivative. The company’s balance sheet is strong following the LGES note conversion. At 31 December 2025, LTR had cash of $390m (previously reported). We estimate pro forma (post LG note conversion) net cash (excluding leases) of $32m.

FY26 guidance was reiterated, tracking to a stronger 2H with a higher portion of clean underground ore that will boost plant recoveries (1H FY26 61%) and production volumes (1H FY26 190kt), and materially stronger lithium market prices (spot SC6 US$2,220/t; 1H FY26 average US$955/t).

In addition, Bell Potter highlights that Liontown is looking at a brownfield expansion, with results from a study due to be released in the middle of the year. It adds:

The recent strength in lithium markets has motivated the company to revisit Kathleen Valley expansion options, potentially taking mining and plant throughput to 4Mtpa (from 2.8Mtpa) through de-bottlenecking and incremental capacity additions. A study is expected to be completed in mid-2026 and FID is subject to sustained lithium market strength and Board approvals. Current lithium market strength supports the expansion; at this stage we expect a positive decision.

Should you buy Liontown shares?

According to the note, Bell Potter has retained its buy rating and $2.42 price target on Liontown shares.

Based on its current share price of $1.62, this implies potential upside of 49% for investors over the next 12 months.

Commenting on its buy recommendation, the broker said:

LTR is now in a net cash position. Over FY26-27, LTR will continue to ramp up and de-risk Kathleen Valley. With current lithium price strength, LTR can rapidly generate cash to support incremental production expansions and shareholder returns. Kathleen Valley is highly strategic in terms of scale, long project life and location in a tier-one mining jurisdiction. LTR has offtake contracts with top-tier EV and battery OEMs. The company has a strong balance sheet with long tenor debt finance.

The post Are Liontown shares a buy after its results? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Friday
• Why EOS, GQG, Liontown, and Temple & Webster shares are tumbling today
• Liontown shares drop on $184m half-year loss
• Liontown: Production and revenue jump as underground ramp-up continues
• Australia’s next great ASX mining boom: Are we already in it?

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.

Many investors eventually reach a point where they have some spare cash ready to put into the share market.

Whether that money is being used to start a new position, add to an existing holding, or simply take advantage of opportunities in the market, the key question becomes the same: Which companies are worth backing right now?

If I had $10,000 available to invest today, these are five ASX 200 shares I would be happy buying.

HUB24 Ltd (ASX: HUB)

One company that continues to impress me is HUB24.

The wealth platform provider has become one of the fastest-growing financial technology businesses on the Australian share market. Its platform continues to attract strong inflows as financial advisers move client assets onto modern technology platforms.

That shift away from legacy systems toward newer digital platforms still appears to have a long runway. HUB24 has consistently been gaining market share and growing funds under administration, which, in turn, supports rising revenue and earnings.

What I like most about its platform model is the operating leverage. As funds grow on the platform, the company can generate increasing revenue without needing to grow costs at the same pace.

Sigma Healthcare Ltd (ASX: SIG)

Sigma has become a much stronger business following its merger with Chemist Warehouse.

The combined group now brings together one of Australia’s largest pharmaceutical distribution networks with one of the most recognisable pharmacy retail brands in the country.

That combination gives Sigma a powerful position across the healthcare supply chain. It also provides access to the scale and customer reach of the Chemist Warehouse brand, which has expanded rapidly across Australia and internationally.

Healthcare demand tends to be resilient, and with a much larger and more integrated business model in place, Sigma looks positioned to benefit from that demand over the long term.

Lovisa Holdings Ltd (ASX: LOV)

In my view, Lovisa is one of the most impressive retail growth stories on the ASX.

The jewellery retailer has built a simple but highly scalable business model focused on affordable fashion jewellery and rapid product turnover. That model has translated well internationally, allowing Lovisa to expand aggressively across new markets.

What stands out is the pace of store openings. The company continues to add new locations across Europe, North America, and Asia, steadily expanding its global footprint.

With thousands of potential store locations still available worldwide, Lovisa appears to have a very long growth runway ahead. This could be boosted further by its new brand, Jewells. However, it is still early days for its rollout.

BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP)

BHP remains one of the most important ASX 200 shares on the Australian market.

The mining giant owns some of the world’s largest and longest-life resources assets, spanning iron ore, copper, coal, and potash.

What particularly attracts me today is BHP’s growing exposure to copper. Copper is expected to play a critical role in electrification, renewable energy, and the global energy transition, which could drive strong demand in the years ahead.

While commodity prices fluctuate, companies with large, low-cost resources often become long-term winners.

Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW)

Every portfolio benefits from having some defensive businesses.

For me, Woolworths is one of the clearest examples of that on the ASX. The company operates Australia’s largest supermarket chain and generates billions of dollars in recurring grocery sales each year.

Supermarkets tend to perform relatively consistently because people still need to buy food regardless of economic conditions.

Woolworths also continues investing in its supply chain, digital capabilities, and retail network. Those investments should help it maintain its leadership position in the years ahead.

Foolish Takeaway

When I’m looking for ASX 200 shares to buy, I’m usually searching for businesses with strong competitive positions and long-term growth opportunities.

HUB24, Sigma, Lovisa, BHP, and Woolworths each have qualities that I believe make them compelling long-term investments.

The post 5 incredible ASX 200 shares I’d buy with $10,000 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• How I’d start building an ASX retirement portfolio today
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Motley Fool contributor Grace Alvino has positions in Hub24 and Lovisa. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Hub24 and Lovisa. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Woolworths Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended BHP Group, Hub24, and Lovisa. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Oil prices have surged overnight as the ongoing war in the Middle East continues to raise concerns about the global energy supply.

According to Trading Economics, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude jumped more than 10% to US$96 per barrel, while Brent crude climbed to US$101 per barrel.

The sharp move higher could set the stage for another strong session for Australian energy producers when the market opens.

Two ASX 200 companies that may attract attention today are Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO). Both stocks have already been rallying in recent weeks.

Oil rally driven by supply fears

The surge in oil prices comes as geopolitical risks in the Middle East intensify.

Markets are focused on potential disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy transit routes.

According to the US Energy Information Administration, around 20 million barrels of oil and petroleum products pass through the Strait of Hormuz each day. This is equivalent to roughly 20% of global oil consumption.

The route is also critical for gas markets. Estimates indicate around 20% of global liquefied natural gas (LNG) trade moves through the strait, with much of it exported from Qatar to Asian markets.

Analysts warn that if the strait is significantly disrupted, millions of barrels of daily oil supply will be affected. Some forecasts suggest crude prices could climb toward US$120 per barrel or higher if exports from the Persian Gulf are halted.

Woodside shares already climbing

The oil rally has already been supporting the share price of Woodside.

Shares in Woodside recently closed at $31.05, giving the company a market capitalisation of about $59 billion.

Over the past month, the Woodside share price has climbed around 18%, as stronger oil prices improved investor sentiment toward energy producers.

Woodside is Australia’s largest independent oil and gas company and generates significant revenue from LNG and crude production.

If the surge in crude continues, investors may expect further strength in the Woodside share price when trading begins.

Santos shares also gaining momentum

Shares in Santos have also been trending higher.

The Santos share price recently finished at $7.49, giving the company a market capitalisation of roughly $24 billion.

The stock has risen around 10% over the past month, supported by the rebound in global oil markets.

Foolish takeaway

The key question for energy investors is whether oil prices can keep rising.

With WTI crude trading US$96 per barrel, markets will be watching closely to see if prices push back above the US$100 level.

If geopolitical tensions remain elevated and supply risks continue, Woodside and Santos will likely remain in focus on the ASX today.

The post Oil surges 10% overnight. Here are 2 ASX 200 stocks to watch today 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.