Category: Stock Market

Looking for investment ideas in July?

Well, listed below are seven ASX 200 shares that brokers currently rate as buys.

Life360 Inc (ASX: 360)

Citi remains positive on Life360 and has retained its buy rating on the location-sharing technology company.

The broker has also lifted its price target to $31.95 from $28.25, which compares with the latest share price of $27.01.

Citi expects growth to accelerate as the year progresses, suggesting there could be more upside if Life360 continues converting its large user base into stronger revenue and earnings.

The broker’s price target implies potential upside of around 18%.

Domino’s Pizza Enterprises Ltd (ASX: DMP)

Ord Minnett has retained its buy rating on Domino’s Pizza Enterprises, although it has trimmed its price target to $21.00 from $22.00.

Even after the reduction, the broker still sees potential upside of approximately 29%. This suggests Ord Minnett believes the market may be too negative on the pizza chain’s recovery prospects.

Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT)

UBS remains positive on Flight Centre Travel Group.

The broker has retained its buy rating and $14.70 price target on the travel company’s shares, which are currently trading at $12.60.

That suggests potential upside of around 17%.

UBS is also forecasting a dividend of 43 cents per share in FY 2027, which represents a dividend yield of 3.4%.

Genesis Minerals Ltd (ASX: GMD)

Bell Potter has retained its buy rating on Genesis Minerals shares following the announcement of plans to merge with fellow gold miner Vault Minerals Ltd (ASX: VAU).

The broker has trimmed its price target slightly to $9.75 from $9.90.

That still sits well above the latest Genesis share price of $5.78, implying potential upside of close to 70%.

Goodman Group (ASX: GMG)

Citi continues to back Goodman Group.

The broker has retained its buy rating and $40.00 price target on the industrial property giant’s shares.

With Goodman shares trading at $30.68, that points to potential upside of around 30%.

Citi expects the company to upgrade its earnings per share growth guidance ahead of its results in August.

Lynas Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: LYC)

Macquarie has retained its outperform rating and $22.00 price target on Lynas Rare Earths.

This follows the rare earths company’s announcement of a long-term partnership with JS Link to develop a 3ktpa NdFeB permanent magnet facility in Malaysia.

Based on the latest share price of $16.91, Macquarie’s price target implies potential upside of around 30%.

REA Group Ltd (ASX: REA)

Finally, Morgans remains positive on REA Group and has retained its buy rating on the property listings company.

And while it has reduced its price target to $199 from $219, this still implies potential upside of approximately 35% from where its shares currently trade..

Morgans believes management has levers it can pull to help offset softer listing volumes.

The post 7 ASX 200 shares given buy ratings this week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 2 ASX shares highly recommended to buy: Experts
• Why I want to own these ASX shares brokers rate as buys
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Forget CBA shares, I’d buy these ASX bank stocks instead
• 13 ASX 200 shares that doubled in value in FY26

Citigroup is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Domino’s Pizza Enterprises, Goodman Group, Life360, and REA Group. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Domino’s Pizza Enterprises, Goodman Group, Life360, and Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Lynas Rare Earths Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Life360. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Domino’s Pizza Enterprises, Flight Centre Travel Group, Goodman Group, and Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The team at Bell Potter have just released updated guidance for Amplitude Energy Ltd (ASX: AEL) shares. 

It has been a tough year for Amplitude Energy shares ,which have crashed over 50% year to date. 

For comparison, the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) is up 10% in the same period.

However, despite the struggling performances thus far, Bell Potter sees big upside over the next 12 months. 

Here’s what the broker had to say. 

Quarter impacted by seasonality and sentiment

Bell Potter expects Amplitude Energy’s June 2026 quarter to be softer, with production broadly flat but lower realised gas prices due to mild seasonal demand, stronger supply from Longford, and weaker sentiment across the energy sector. 

Despite this, the broker believes the company remains on track to meet FY26 guidance and expects market conditions to improve. 

Bell Potter is increasingly positive on the East Coast Supply Project, noting it has been substantially de-risked following the Artisan acquisition, with a positive Final Investment Decision anticipated this quarter. 

Supported by a solid balance sheet and existing assets generating around $150 million in annual free cash flow, Bell Potter believes Amplitude Energy is well positioned to fund the project’s remaining development toward first production in 2028.

AEL is a pure-play leverage to the southern east coast Australia gas market with the majority of its gas sales under stable contracted prices. The company’s flagship 100%-owned Gippsland Basin asset is now consistently operating near nameplate capacity (68TJ/day); debottlenecking could see incremental improvements.

Big upside in tact 

Based on this guidance, the team at Bell Potter has slightly lowered its price target to $2.50 (previously $2.90). 

However from yesterday’s closing price of approximately $1.295, this indicates an upside potential of 93%. 

It has retained its buy recommendation. 

AEL is in a strong position to meet FY26 guidance despite the weaker June 2026 quarter and we expect energy markets and sentiment to normalise. 

The East Coast Supply Project has been de-risked through the Artisan acquisition, and we expect a positive Final Investment Decision in the current quarter.

Encouragingly, Bell Potter isn’t the only expert tipping a big rebound for Amplitude Energy shares. 

Morgans recently said there had been some sizable, albeit short-term catalysts, that recently pushed the share price lower. 

However, the broker now sees it as a rebound candidate. 

Morgans has a buy rating on Amplitude shares with a price target of $3. 

This indicates 130% upside from current levels. 

The post Amplitude Energy shares could be set to soar 90%: Expert appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Aaron Bell 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.

Retirees may be on the hunt for ASX dividend shares that can provide a solid base of passive income. I think Rural Funds Group (ASX: RFF) is one of the top options in retirement.

Rural Funds is a real estate investment trust (REIT) that owns farmland across Australia, in different states and climate conditions. It also has a large holding of water entitlements for its tenants to use.

For a few different reasons, I think the business fits what retiree investors may be looking for.

Stable payout

Retirees may be looking for businesses that can provide resilient payouts through all economic conditions. If I’m relying on investment income, I want to know it can continue flowing even if there’s a downturn.

Of course, there is no absolute guarantee that every business will pay dividends.

Rural Funds has a number of high-quality tenants that are either high-quality international, listed or national entities. That helps ensure it continues to generate good rental profits.

Additionally, the ASX dividend share has a weighted average lease expiry (WALE) of more than a decade, giving investors significant income security and visibility with how long tenants are signed up.

The business increased its distribution each year between 2014 to 2022 and has maintained it since then despite the headwinds of higher interest rates. While I’d prefer growth, it’s still a good sign that the payout hasn’t been reduced despite the higher interest costs.

Plus, Rural Funds’ rental contracts have indexation built into the leases, giving the business organic rental growth potential and a tailwind to increase its payout for retirees (and other investors) in the future.

Good dividend yield

The business has regularly paid an annual distribution per unit of 11.73 cents over the last few financial years, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the ASX dividend share pays the same passive income again in FY27.

If Rural Funds does pay that level of distribution again in the 2027 financial year, it would translate into a distribution yield of 5.8%. In my view, that’s extremely competitive with any term deposit rate out there that’s available to Australians right now.

Compelling farm ownership at a discount

I like the diversification that Rural Funds can provide for retiree investors, with a focus on residential property, banks, and miners. Farmland is an integral part of the Australian economy, and this investment gives us exposure to cattle, vineyards, almonds, macadamias and cropping.

I believe the business is significantly undervalued based on its adjusted net asset value (NAV). It’s ‘adjusted’ to include the market value of the water entitlements.

At 31 December 2025, it had an adjusted NAV of $3.10. That means it’s trading at a discount of 35%, at the time of writing. There are very few REITs or ASX dividend shares that are trading as cheaply as that.

I think it’s a great business to pick up right now, though it’s not the only ASX dividend share I’d buy today.

The post Why this ASX dividend share is a retiree’s dream for FY27 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

The ASX blue-chip share space is a great place to look for ideas that can deliver strong passive income with good dividend yields.

Mature Australian businesses have usually built a strong reputation for generating profit, they have a big accounting profit reserve and a history of paying resilient dividends to investors.

When I look at ASX shares with market capitalisations of more than $6 billion, the two businesses below are ones that stick out as good providers of passive income.

Argo Investments Ltd (ASX: ARG)

Argo is a listed investment company (LIC) that provides investors with exposure to a portfolio of ASX blue-chip shares. LICs can give Aussies both diversification and a good dividend yield.

The biggest positions in the portfolio includes BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG), Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO), Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA), Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES), Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC), ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) and Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS).

As you can see, Argo gives investors a significant level of allocation to ASX blue-chip shares.

It has a pleasingly low cost, with a management expense ratio of just 0.14%, which is one of the cheapest in the LIC sector. Plenty of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have a higher cost than that.

Since the GFC, the ASX blue-chip share has reduced the annual dividend a couple of times. In most other years, the annual dividend has been hiked. Its current grossed-up dividend yield is 6%, including franking credits.

It’s currently trading at a mid-teen double-digit discount to its net tangible assets (NTA).

Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL)

Coles is another quality ASX blue-chip share Aussies can buy.

As Australia’s second-largest supermarket business, it has a strong market position to continue generating a pleasing level of passive income for shareholders.

Coles has increased its annual dividend each year since 2019, which is a pleasing level of dividend consistency compared to many other large businesses. The steady growth of revenue and net profit has allowed the business to be a consistent dividend provider for investors.

At the time of writing, Coles’ last two half-year dividends come to 73 cents per share. That’s a grossed-up dividend yield of 4.5%, including franking credits.

The business is steadily building its market position thanks to an expanding store network, rising e-commerce sales and improving profit margins.

In my view, Coles has a promising long-term future – it’s a very important business for the Australian economy and could expand into pet retail and vets if the possible Greencross transaction goes ahead.

Overall, there’s a lot to like about these ASX blue-chip shares, though they’re not the only great businesses to consider.

The post 2 ASX blue-chip shares offering big dividend yields appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison 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 and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Telstra Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended BHP Group, Macquarie Group, and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

One of the most significant and least publicised changes to hit the superannuation system this week directly affects new parents.

From 1 July 2026, eligible parents who receive government-funded Parental Leave Pay will also receive a 12% superannuation contribution on those payments. This will be paid directly by the ATO into their nominated super fund.

The scheme has expanded to 130 days, or 26 weeks, of paid parental leave, with the super contribution applying across the full period.

Why this superannuation change matters

Australia has one of the widest gender super gaps in the developed world.

Women retire with approximately 25% less superannuation than men, a gap driven in large part by career breaks taken for caring responsibilities.

Every year spent on parental leave without super contributions is a year of compounding returns lost. The new measure directly addresses that dynamic.

The Parental Leave Pay is based on the national minimum wage, now $26.44 per hour, which means a parent taking the full 26 weeks receives approximately $26,218 in total parental leave pay across the period.

At a 12% super guarantee rate, that translates to approximately $3,146 in super contributions for a parent taking the full scheme entitlement.

Over a working life, compounded at the historical ASX 200 return of approximately 8.5% per annum, a single year’s parental leave super contribution of $3,146 grows to approximately $33,000 by retirement for a 30-year-old today.

That is not a trivial amount from what looks like a small policy tweak.

How to make the most of it

The super contribution arrives as a lump sum after the end of the financial year. This is paid by the ATO directly to the parent’s nominated fund.

Parents who are on their employer’s own parental leave scheme, rather than the government scheme, should check whether their employer separately pays super during that period, since employer policies vary.

For parents with a self-managed superannuation fund or a choice fund, ensuring the ATO has the correct fund details is the most important practical step.

The investment choice inside the fund also matters enormously over a 30-year compounding period.

Two ASX shares that benefit

More superannuation flowing into the system more frequently means more assets landing on the wealth management platforms that administer that money.

Both Hub24 Ltd (ASX: HUB) and Netwealth Group Ltd (ASX: NWL) are direct beneficiaries of this dynamic.

Hub24 delivered record half-year net inflows of $10.7 billion in 1H FY26 and upgraded its FY27 platform funds under administration target to $160 billion to $170 billion. This comes as Australia’s growing super pool continues to flow toward technology-enabled platforms.

Netwealth reached a record $125.6 billion in platform funds under administration in 1H FY26. Platform revenue climbed 25% on the strength of consistent inflows and sticky adviser relationships.

As payday super, expanded parental leave contributions, and the broader super pool growth combine into FY27, both platforms are positioned to capture a growing share of that expanding pool.

Foolish takeaway for your superannuation

The new parental leave super entitlement is worth approximately $3,146 for parents taking the full 26 weeks of government parental leave.

It is automatic, it flows directly into the nominated super fund, and it directly narrows a gender super gap that has been decades in the making.

For investors, Hub24 and Netwealth are two of the clearest ASX beneficiaries, as Australia’s superannuation pool grows not just in size but in the frequency and breadth of contributions flowing into it.

For specific information on how the changes might impact you, it might be worth consulting a financial advisor.

The post New parents are now earning superannuation on parental leave. Here’s how to make the most of it appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Mark Verhoeven 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 Hub24 and Netwealth Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Netwealth Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Hub24. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The party is back on for two battered ASX tech shares.

WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC) and Catapult Sports Ltd (ASX: CAT) were among the biggest winners on Tuesday, jumping 6% and 8% respectively as investors returned to beaten-down technology names.

Could this be the start of a much bigger recovery, or just a short-term bounce after a brutal sell-off?

Both companies have plenty to prove, but analysts still see significant upside if they can rebuild investor confidence.

WiseTech: Can the rally really begin after chair steps down?

WiseTech shares received a boost on Tuesday after the company announced that co-founder Richard White would step down from the chair role, with Raeline Murphy taking over.

White said recent personal media attention had become an unnecessary distraction from the strength of the underlying business.

The leadership change appears to have helped ease some investor concerns, but the recent recovery remains tiny compared with the damage already done.

The ASX tech share is up around 11% over the past five trading days, yet it remains down roughly 67% over the past year, making it one of the worst performers on the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO).

Despite the collapse, analysts remain surprisingly positive. According to TradingView data, 12 of the 15 analysts covering WiseTech rate the stock as either a buy or strong buy. The remaining three have a hold rating.

The average 12-month price target sits at $66.69, suggesting potential upside of around 78%. The most bullish analyst sees the shares reaching $120.60, which would represent upside of more than 220%.

Bell Potter remains optimistic as well. While the broker recently cut its price target from $78.75 to $71.75, it maintained its buy rating. The revised target still implies potential upside of more than 90%.

Catapult: Expanding while maintaining competitive edge

Catapult shares also enjoyed a strong session on Tuesday, although there was no specific price-sensitive announcement behind the move.

Instead, investors appear to be continuing the rebound from the stock’s late-June lows.

The recovery has already pushed Catapult shares more than 20% higher from those levels, although the bigger picture remains challenging. The stock is still down around 44% over the past 12 months.

Catapult’s biggest strength is the stickiness of its technology. Professional sporting teams build years of performance data into its platforms, creating switching costs that make it difficult for competitors to win customers.

The company provides athlete performance and analytics technology used by some of the world’s biggest sporting organisations, including teams across the AFL, NRL, Premier League, NFL, NBA, MLB and international rugby competitions.

The challenge is growth. Like many smaller technology companies, Catapult needs to keep expanding its customer base while proving that it can maintain its competitive edge.

Analysts believe the market may be underestimating its potential. All brokers that cover the ASX tech share rate it a buy. The most bullish forecast is $8.25, a potential gain of 146% for the next 12 months.

Morgans currently rates Catapult as a buy with a $5.40 price target, which is in line with the average price target. Based on recent trading levels around $3.35, that implies upside of approximately 60%.

The post These ASX tech shares crashed hard. Could they double from here? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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Motley Fool contributor Marc Van Dinther has positions in WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Catapult Sports and WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Catapult Sports and WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Looking for some investment ideas for July? Well, it could be worth hearing what Ord Minnett has to say about the ASX shares in this article.

Are they buys, holds, or sells? Let’s find out:

CAR Group Limited (ASX: CAR)

Ord Minnett has put a buy rating and $35.00 price target on this auto listings company’s shares.

While it is facing a tough period, the broker remains positive and highlights its strong track record of resilience. It said:

CAR Group (CAR) has a strong track record of resilience through macroeconomic cycles, but current conditions suggest some modest near-term pressure. Reflecting this, Ord Minnett has trimmed its forecasts slightly, with our EPS estimate for FY26 and FY27 by around 1% for FY26–FY27. Our changes imply slightly softer growth than the broader market is anticipating. Our central assumption is that growth in the second half of FY26 moderates compared to the first half, before re-accelerating into FY27 and beyond.

Overall, currency movements and these modest operational adjustments translate to only minor forecast changes. On a constant currency basis, CAR is still expected to deliver around 10–11% net profit growth in FY27, or approximately 9% after foreign exchange impacts. Importantly, these macroeconomic pressures are likely to be temporary, with scope for growth to strengthen again from FY27.

Judo Capital Holdings Ltd (ASX: JDO)

The broker isn’t feeling as positive on this small business lender. In response to a disappointing trading update, Ord Minnett downgraded Judo Capital shares to a hold rating with a heavily reduced price target of $1.60.

Commenting on the downgrade, it said:

The speed at which conditions for these three specific exposures deteriorated – none were on a watch list – is a significant concern for Ord Minnett and the broader market, raising questions as to just how rigorous and reliable Judo’s monitoring processes are, not to mention management’s credibility. We also highlight the large size of these particular loans – the combined exposure for Judo is $80 million, versus its average SME loan size of around $3 million – and question why Judo was making such large individual loans.

Post the trading update, we have cut our EPS estimates by 9.4%, 19.6% and 7.6% for FY26, FY27 and FY28, respectively, which drives a steep downgrade of our target price to $1.60 from $2.40. We also cut our recommendation on Judo to Hold from Buy despite the apparent value on offer, given uncertainty around the company’s processes and the time it will take for management to rebuild market confidence.

Worley Ltd (ASX: WOR)

Worley is another ASX share that Ord Minnett has downgraded. It has cut its rating on the engineering company’s shares to a hold rating with a reduced price target of $12.70.

Ord Minnett has concerns about its near-term earnings outlook. It explains:

There remains considerable uncertainty over short-term earnings for Worley and its peers. More broadly, we highlight the change in Worley’s business mix, with a modest shift to engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) work, i.e. larger developments and responsibility for full project delivery, a business segment that is higher risk than traditional consultancy and advisory.

‍Worley does not have the same exposure as the EPC sector’s major operators, e.g. Italy’s Maire or France’s Technip Energies, but its risk profile has increased versus consulting and advisory peers such as US-based Jacobs Solution and Fluor Corp. There is apparent value on offer in Worley but the uncertainty around near-term earnings, and what we see as an increasing risk profile, mean we cut our recommendation to Hold from Accumulate.

The post Buy, hold, sell: CAR Group, Judo Capital, and Worley shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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• 7 ASX shares downgraded by brokers this week

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

Experts are always on the lookout for ASX shares that could produce strong returns. We’re going to look at two names that could outperform the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO).

It’s interesting when one analyst likes a business, it’s very intriguing when multiple analysts think an ASX share is a buy.

Below are two of the most potentially exciting stocks with multiple buy ratings.

Goodman Group (ASX: GMG)

Goodman is the largest property business on the ASX – it develops, owns and manages a global portfolio of industrial properties.

According to the Commsec collation of analyst opinions, there are currently 12 buy ratings, two hold ratings and no sell ratings on the business. There are very few ASX shares that have as much analyst backing as Goodman right now.

Goodman is working on a very impressive development pipeline that could significantly add to its underlying value.

In the quarterly update for the three months to 31 March 2026, Goodman said that its work in progress (WIP) was $14.5 billion, with an annualised production rate of around $6 billion. The yield on cost on the current WIP is 8%.

Data centres under construction represent around 73% of WIP, so the business is looking to benefit from that high demand for new data centre facilities.

The rental performance of its property portfolio continues to perform solidly. Its third-quarter update revealed 4.1% like-for-like net property income (NPI) growth.

Guzman Y Gomez Ltd (ASX: GYG)

Another ASX share with strong backing is Guzman Y Gomez, one of Australia’s largest Mexican food businesses.

At 31 March 2026, the business had 242 locations in Australia (of which 155 were franchise restaurants), 23 locations in Singapore and five in Japan – this represented an increase of at least 14% year over year for each market.

The Commsec collation of analyst opinions shows there are currently 10 buy ratings on the business, with two hold ratings and two sell ratings.

The Guzman Y Gomez share price is much cheaper than it was a year ago – it’s 25% lower. Yet, the company continues to grow strongly. In the third quarter of FY26, Australian network sales grew by 19.7% to $320.4 million, and Asian network sales increased 15% to $21.5 million, with those markets delivering combined comparable sales growth of 6.6%.

The ASX share expects the Australian and Asian divisions to deliver year-over-year growth in underlying operating profit (EBITDA) of approximately 29%.

Over time, the company expects to reach 1,000 Australian restaurants and segment underlying EBITDA as a percentage of network sales of 10%. This could increase the value of the business significantly in the coming years.

The post 2 ASX shares highly recommended to buy: Experts appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in Guzman Y Gomez. 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.

Something changed in every Australian worker’s pay packet this week.

From 1 July 2026, the tax rate on income between $18,201 and $45,000 dropped from 16% to 15%. This delivered a tax cut to almost every Australian taxpayer regardless of income level.

The cut is applied automatically through your employer’s payroll. You do not need to do anything to receive it.

The actual dollar amount

The size of the benefit depends on how much of your income falls in the $18,201 to $45,000 bracket.

For someone earning exactly $45,000, the benefit from this round of cuts alone is approximately $268 per year, or around $5.15 per week.

For someone earning above $45,000, the benefit is also $268, since the portion of income taxed at the lower rate also receives this benefit.

However, the government’s total tax cuts since 2024 are larger than this single round.

An average earner on $81,245 will receive $1,978 in total tax cuts in FY27 compared to 2023-24 settings, when all three rounds of legislated tax cuts are combined.

That is $38 per week more in take-home pay than two years ago.

From 1 July 2027, the same bracket rate drops again to 14%, adding an additional maximum of $268 per year in tax savings.

The $1,000 instant tax deduction

Alongside the rate cut, a new $1,000 instant tax deduction for work-related expenses starts this financial year.

Previously, workers could only claim up to $300 in work-related expenses without providing receipts.

From FY27, that cap rises to $1,000, meaning workers can reduce their taxable income by up to $1,000 from the first dollar of work expenses without keeping a single receipt.

For a worker paying the 32.5% marginal rate, claiming the full $1,000 deduction is worth approximately $325 in tax savings when they lodge their FY27 tax return.

The deduction does not apply to FY26 returns lodged from 1 July 2026. But it does apply to FY27.

What to do with the extra money

A tax cut of $268 per year is not life-changing.

But small, consistent amounts invested over time compound into meaningful outcomes.

An extra $268 per year invested into the share market, earning the historical ASX 200 average of approximately 8.5% per annum, grows to approximately $13,400 over 20 years.

For investors who want to put their tax saving to work immediately, Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) remains one of the most widely held ASX shares among Australian retail investors. CBA shares offer a fully franked dividend yield and long-term earnings track record that suits a small, consistent investment approach.

Foolish takeaway for your tax bill

Your tax rate dropped on 1 July 2026.

The cut is small, worth up to $268 this year and $536 from 2027. But combined with the new $1,000 instant tax deduction, FY27 is meaningfully less taxing than FY26 was.

The smartest move is to direct that saving somewhere productive rather than letting it disappear into the household budget unnoticed.

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Motley Fool contributor Mark Verhoeven 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.

Sometimes the market focuses heavily on short-term problems and misses the long-term potential of a business. That is where broker research can uncover interesting ASX opportunities.

While analysts can be wrong, their work can highlight businesses where the market may be underestimating future growth.

Three ASX shares that have recently caught my attention are named below.

ResMed Inc. (ASX: RMD)

The first ASX share I would consider buying is one where the market appears to have become much more cautious.

ResMed shares are trading around $31.44, and Morgans believes the recent weakness has created an attractive opportunity.

The concerns are understandable. Investors have been weighing the potential impact of GLP-1 therapies, the possibility of Philips returning to the US PAP market, and broader weakness across healthcare shares.

However, I think the bigger picture remains compelling. ResMed operates in a healthcare market with a huge long-term opportunity. Sleep apnoea and related breathing disorders affect a large number of people globally, and many remain undiagnosed or untreated. That creates a significant runway for growth.

I also like the direction of the business beyond traditional devices. Connected technology, digital health solutions, and software can help improve patient outcomes while making treatment more accessible.

Morgans highlighted that ResMed has de-rated to around 16 times forward earnings, close to its lowest valuation since the post-GFC period, while consensus still expects double-digit earnings growth. For this reason, it has a buy recommendation and $41.72 target price on its shares.

The risks are real, but I think the market may be underestimating the quality of the underlying business.

Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT)

The second opportunity comes from a business that has been caught up in broader travel uncertainty.

Flight Centre shares have struggled as investors assess the impact of geopolitical issues and weaker operating conditions.

But I think the long-term travel story remains attractive. People continue to value experiences, holidays, and international travel. When confidence improves, travel demand can recover quickly.

What interests me about Flight Centre is the strength of its position. The company has built a global travel network, strong brand recognition, and a valuable customer base. It also has a strong balance sheet.

Morgans believes the recent weakness creates an opportunity, highlighting the company’s financial strength and the potential for a stronger recovery in the second half of FY27. It has a buy recommendation and $14.80 target price on the shares.

I think the key is patience. The recovery may take time, but if travel conditions normalise, earnings and the share price could respond positively.

Sigma Healthcare Ltd (ASX: SIG)

The final ASX share I would look at is Chemist Warehouse owner Sigma Healthcare.

Ord Minnett believes the company’s UK expansion opportunity could become significant over time. The initial rollout is still small, but the market itself is large and fragmented, creating an opportunity for a proven retail model to expand.

What I find interesting is the possibility of taking existing capabilities into a new market. Sigma has access to pharmacy infrastructure, retail experience, and the backing of one of Australia’s strongest consumer brands through Chemist Warehouse.

There is execution risk, as with any international expansion. But I think the potential upside comes from the ability to replicate a successful model in a much larger market.

Ord Minnett recently placed a buy recommendation and $3.40 target price on the shares. I think this is a fair valuation and shows potential for good returns from its current share price of around $2.82.

Foolish takeaway

I think these three ASX shares are interesting because investors are currently looking beyond the headlines and asking whether the long-term opportunity has changed.

In my view, the businesses themselves still have attractive qualities. The challenge for investors is having the patience to wait for those strengths to become more visible.

The post Why I want to own these ASX shares brokers rate as buys 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 positions in and has recommended ResMed. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended ResMed. 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.