Category: Stock Market

  • Should I buy Amcor shares for their ‘attractive’ dividend yield?

    Woman with $50 notes in her hand thinking, symbolising dividends.

    The past year’s share price retrace, coupled with a big lift in dividends, has seen Amcor PLC (ASX: AMC) shares join the ASX’s high-yielding club.

    There’s not really a club.

    But at Tuesday’s closing price of $54.38, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) global packaging giant trades on an unfranked dividend yield (partly trailing, partly forecast) of 6.8%.

    As you may be aware, unlike many ASX 200 dividend stocks, which make twice-yearly payouts, Amcor pays its dividends on a quarterly basis.

    And with its acquisition of United States-based packaging company Berry Global completed last year, the past two quarters have seen Amcor ramp up its passive income payments.

    In the first two quarters of 2026, Amcor declared two unfranked dividends, totalling $1.84 a share. If you owned shares at market close yesterday, you can expect to receive the Q2 dividend of 91 cents a share on 17 June. Amcor stock is trading ex-dividend today.

    Now, with Amcor shares down 22% over the past 12 months, and assuming similar dividend payouts in the next two quarters, is the ASX 200 stock a good buy for passive income?

    Should you buy Amcor shares for passive income?

    Shaw and Partners’ Jed Richards recently ran his slide rule over Amcor shares (courtesy of The Bull).

    Commenting on the recent headwinds pressuring the stock, he said, “This packaging giant continues to face pressure from elevated input costs, particularly linked to higher oil and plastic prices, which have impacted margins.”

    But, citing the company’s “attractive dividend yield” and ability to pass on rising costs, Richards believes investors should hold onto their Amcor shares. He noted:

    Despite this, the company maintains strong global operations and continues to generate stable cash flow. A weaker share price provides an attractive dividend yield for income investors.

    Recent updates indicate increased costs have been passed through to customers. Holding is appropriate given its defensive packaging exposure, but upside will likely depend on managing input costs.

    What’s the latest from the ASX 200 stock?

    Amcor shares closed up 3.9% on 7 May, following the release of the company’s March quarter results (Q3 FY 2026).

    The company noted that with its Berry Global takeover completed, it realised acquisition synergies of US$77 million during the quarter.

    The March quarter saw Amcor deliver net sales of US$5.91 billion, up 77% year on year. And adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of US$892 million surged by 87%.

    “Third quarter results were in line with expectations and reflect the resilience of our business as we mark the first anniversary of bringing legacy Amcor and Berry together as One Amcor,” Amcor CEO Peter Konieczny said on the day.

    The post Should I buy Amcor shares for their ‘attractive’ dividend yield? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Amcor Plc right now?

    Before you buy Amcor Plc shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Amcor Plc wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    * Returns as of 20 Feb 2026

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

  • How do ASX dividend shares compare to savings deposit rates today?

    A row of pink piggy banks ranging in size from small to big.

    Following a third consecutive interest rate rise this month, people were likely already thinking about investment yields a bit more.

    Then came the federal budget, and details of proposed changes to the capital gains tax (CGT).

    People already knew the Federal Government was considering CGT changes for property investments to improve housing affordability.

    What they didn’t expect was CGT changes on all asset classes, including ASX shares and businesses.

    That changes the game, according to some experts.

    CGT changes magnify importance of yield

    Some experts reckon higher taxes on capital gains will likely amplify the appeal of yield over growth for some investors.

    Private wealth and investment advisory firm, Medallion Financial Group, said:

    At a high level, the changes tilt the playing field toward yield. If a larger portion of capital gains is taxed away, the after-tax return profile of growth assets; equities, start-ups, and expansionary investments becomes less compelling.

    This might enhance the appeal of ASX dividend shares, or exchange-traded funds (ETFs) tracking the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO).

    ASX dividend shares deliver a much higher yield than international shares, but they aren’t what they used to be.

    Historically, income investors have relied on ASX 200 bank and mining shares to deliver generous dividend yields.

    But the average dividend yield for the ASX 200 has fallen below 3.5%.

    And this may start looking a little weak to income investors, given risk-free savings deposit rates have now risen above 5.5%.

    Savings deposit interest rates

    Savings deposit rates are not only attractive now, they’re likely to go even higher given expectations of further rate rises this year.

    Some examples in the market today include a 5.75% ongoing but conditional savings rate offered by Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) to customers aged 18 to 34 via its Westpac Life product.

    ING offers a 5.5% ongoing but conditional rate via its Savings Maximiser product.

    These are not short-term intro savings rates that last only a few months.

    They are ongoing, everyday interest rates that apply as long as you meet certain conditions every month, such as increasing your balance by a certain amount.

    Those yields are certainly appealing, but here’s the thing.

    If you’re a long-term investor, you are still likely to do better with ASX dividend shares over savings, even if you pay a bit more CGT.

    This is because ASX dividend shares offer both capital growth and yield.

    Savings accounts just deliver yield (which inflation then eats into as well).

    So, remaining invested in assets that also deliver reliable growth over the long term is protective.

    The following chart shows the current trailing dividend yields of the top 10 ASX 200 shares by market capitalisation.

    As you can see, some stocks have dividend yields above today’s savings deposit rates, while some are below.

    And nine out of 10 have delivered solid average annual capital growth over the past five years.

    Even if you pay more tax on gains in the future, growth plus yield still looks to be a compelling combination, depending on your goals.

    Food for thought.

    Top 10 ASX 200 shares: Dividend yields and capital growth

    Company Trailing dividend yield Gross yield (incl franking) Average annual capital gain over 5 years
    BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) 3.31% 4.73% 8%
    Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) 3.02% 4.31% 12.8%
    Westpac Banking Corporation (ASX: WBC) 4.24% 6.06% 7.8%
    National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) 4.51% 6.45% 8%
    ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) 4.7% 6.16% 5%
    Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG) 2.91% 3.35% 10.6%
    Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) 3.38% 4.84% 7.8%
    Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) 3.24% 4.63% 10.8%
    Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG) 5.62% 8.02% -0.3%
    Goodman Group (ASX: GMG) 0.97% 0.97% 10.8%

    The post How do ASX dividend shares compare to savings deposit rates today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Fortescue right now?

    Before you buy Fortescue shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Fortescue wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    * Returns as of 20 Feb 2026

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

  • Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today

    A woman's hand draws a stylised 'Top Ten' on a projected surface.

    It was a depressing return to red territory for the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) and many ASX shares this Tuesday.

    After kicking off the trading week on a positive note yesterday, investors couldn’t keep up the momentum, with the index opening in the red this morning and staying that way all session. By the time the markets closed up shop, the ASX 200 had lost 0.39% and finished up at 8,657.8 points.

    The US markets were closed for the Memorial Day public holiday last night, so the small gains we saw ‘Stateside last Friday are still holding.

    So, without further ado, it’s now time to take stock of how the various ASX sectors fared amid today’s frosty trading conditions.

    Winners and losers

    Today’s pessimism was almost universal, with only one sector adding value this session.

    Firstly, it was utilities shares that bore the brunt of investors’ displeasure. The S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) saw its value crash by 2.17% this Tuesday.

    Gold stocks were no safe haven either, with the All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) plunging 1.02%.

    Energy shares didn’t get a pass. The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) tanked 0.88% today.

    Nor did consumer staples stocks, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ)’s 0.79% dive.

    Financial shares didn’t get a look-in either. The S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) ended up cratering by 0.73%.

    Communications stocks came next, with the S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ) retreating 0.63%.

    Tech shares weren’t finding buyers. The S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) saw its value cut by 0.53% this session.

    Next on the list were real estate investment trusts (REITs), as you can see by the S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ)’s 0.36% dip.

    Healthcare stocks were in a similar boat. The S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ) was sent down 0.28% by the closing bell.

    Consumer discretionary shares were just in front of healthcare, with the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) sliding 0.25%.

    Our last losers this Tuesday were industrial stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) slipped down 0.07%.

    Finally, let’s turn to our one green sector. It was none other than mining shares, evidenced by the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ)’s 0.15% lift.

    Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

    Topping the index charts this Tuesday was healthcare company Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corporation Ltd (ASX: FPH). Fisher & Paykel shares surged 9.15% higher this session to close out at $30.05 each.

    This gain came after the company posted its latest full-year results.

    Investors clearly liked what they saw. Here’s how the other top stocks tied up at the dock:

    ASX-listed company Share price Price change
    Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corporation Ltd (ASX: FPH) $30.05 9.15%
    South32 Ltd (ASX: S32) $4.63 4.75%
    Austal Ltd (ASX: ASB) $3.95 4.50%
    NRW Holdings Ltd (ASX: NWH) $7.485.56 3.89%
    Graincorp Ltd (ASX: GNC) $5.07 3.47%
    Aussie Broadband Ltd (ASX: ABB) $5.36 3.08%
    Capstone Copper Corp. (ASX: CSC) $14.33 2.72%
    IGO Ltd (ASX: IGO) $9.47 2.71%
    Liontown Ltd (ASX: LTR) $2.32 2.65%
    Sandfire Resources Ltd (ASX: SFR) $19.47 2.26%

    Our top 10 shares countdown is a recurring end-of-day summary that shows which companies made big moves on the day. Check in at Fool.com.au after the weekday market closes to see which stocks make the countdown.

    The post Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Fisher & Paykel Healthcare right now?

    Before you buy Fisher & Paykel Healthcare shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Fisher & Paykel Healthcare wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    * Returns as of 20 Feb 2026

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

  • 2 ASX tech shares that could survive the AI shakeout

    A corporate female wearing glasses looks intently at a virtual reality screen with shapes and lights representing Block shares going up today

    Artificial intelligence (AI) has created a strange moment for the technology sector.

    On one hand, it could unlock enormous productivity gains and new revenue opportunities. On the other, it has raised serious questions about which software businesses are genuinely durable.

    If AI can complete more work with fewer human users, then traditional seat-based software models may face pressure.

    That is one reason investors have become more selective with technology shares.

    But not every ASX tech share is equally exposed. Some companies provide mission-critical systems, operate in specialist markets, or have the data and workflows needed to make AI an advantage rather than a threat.

    Two names that stand out are listed below.

    Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME)

    Pro Medicus is one ASX tech share that looks well placed in an AI-driven world.

    The company provides medical imaging software through its Visage platform. Its customers include large hospitals, radiology groups, and healthcare networks, particularly in the United States.

    This is not software that sits on the edge of a business. It is used in critical clinical workflows where speed, reliability, and image quality matter. Medical teams need to view, manage, and interpret large volumes of imaging data efficiently.

    That gives Pro Medicus a strong position. Healthcare systems are producing more imaging data, not less. AI may help with parts of diagnosis, workflow prioritisation, and productivity, but that still increases the need for powerful platforms that can handle the data and integrate into hospital systems.

    In other words, AI could make the imaging ecosystem more demanding, not simpler.

    Pro Medicus also benefits from long contracts and high switching costs. Once a major healthcare network adopts its platform, moving away is not a quick or low-risk decision.

    The share price often trades on high expectations, so volatility is always possible. But as healthcare becomes more digital and data-intensive, Pro Medicus looks like the type of software business that could become more important over time.

    TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE)

    TechnologyOne is another ASX tech share that could be better positioned than many in the AI shakeout.

    The company provides enterprise software to customers such as councils, universities, government agencies, and large organisations. These customers use its systems to manage core functions across finance, payroll, assets, students, property, and other essential workflows.

    Essentially, this means TechnologyOne is not selling a lightweight productivity tool that can be easily swapped out. Its software is deeply embedded in complex organisations where reliability, compliance, and accountability matter.

    The company also appears to be leaning into AI rather than waiting to be disrupted by it. Its SaaS+ model is designed to take more responsibility for customer outcomes, while its AI products aim to simplify processes and make enterprise data more useful.

    That could be important as organisations look for technology partners that can help them do more with less.

    The risk for software companies is that AI turns some products into commodities. TechnologyOne’s defence is its sector focus, long customer relationships, and ownership of critical workflows.

    Its shares are rarely cheap, and expectations are high. But if AI becomes a tool that strengthens essential enterprise platforms, TechnologyOne could remain one of the ASX’s more resilient technology names.

    The post 2 ASX tech shares that could survive the AI shakeout appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Pro Medicus right now?

    Before you buy Pro Medicus shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Pro Medicus wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    * Returns as of 20 Feb 2026

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

  • Ord Minnett says this ASX 200 tech share could rise 85%

    Excited couple celebrating success while looking at smartphone.

    PEXA Group Ltd (ASX: PXA) shares are having a tough time on Tuesday.

    In afternoon trade, the ASX 200 tech share is down 6% to $10.76.

    While this is disappointing for shareholders, it could have created a buying opportunity for the rest of us.

    That’s the view of analysts at Ord Minnett, which see significant value in the property settlement technology company’s shares.

    What is the broker saying about this ASX 200 tech share?

    Ord Minnett has been pleased with the company’s performance in FY 2026, highlighting that a recent trading update revealed ongoing momentum in Australian property transaction volumes. It said:

    Pexa Group reiterated its FY26 guidance in a strong March-quarter trading update that highlighted ongoing momentum in Australian property transaction volumes. Domestic volumes are tracking well ahead of internal expectations, with total transactions up 7.3% year on year (YoY). This compares with prior assumptions for a modest decline in second-half volumes, and marks a robust start to the second half of FY26. ‍

    The strength was evident across key transaction categories, including transfers, refinances and other transactions, all recording solid year-on-year growth. National market penetration remained stable at around 90%, consistent with recent periods. Operationally, the Australian business continues to perform well, supporting confidence around earnings delivery in the near term.

    However, the broker does concede that there are emerging risks that investors need to be aware of. It adds:

    That said, there are emerging risks to fourth-quarter activity, including consecutive interest rate increases, softer auction clearance rates and the potential for tax reform affecting investment properties.

    Big potential returns

    According to the note, the broker has a buy rating and $20.00 price target on its shares.

    Based on its current share price, this implies potential upside of approximately 85% for investors over the next 12 months.

    Commenting on its buy recommendation, Ord Minnett said:

    The UK business showed mixed trends, although currency movements provided a short-term tailwind by reducing losses in the segment. Remortgage instruction volumes were strong as borrowers moved to lock in fixed rates ahead of anticipated interest rate rises, although some market share softness was evident. Importantly, many of these instructions are expected to convert to completions in the first quarter of FY27, providing some forward earnings support.

    Despite these positives, the review of integrated property accounting service prices by the NSW Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) remains a key near-term overhang for investors, with a final report not due until September. Resolution of the pricing review is likely to be the catalyst required to unlock investor confidence in Pexa’s prospects and valuation upside. We maintain our Buy recommendation and target price of $20.00.

    The post Ord Minnett says this ASX 200 tech share could rise 85% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in PEXA Group right now?

    Before you buy PEXA Group shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and PEXA Group wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    * Returns as of 20 Feb 2026

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

  • Looking to 4x your money? Shaw and Partners has tipped this miner for big things

    Miner holding a silver nugget.

    Boab Metals Ltd (ASX: BML) today announced it had entered into a contract with GR Engineering Services Ltd (ASX: GNG) for the engineering, procurement and construction at its Sorby Hills silver-lead project in the Kimberley region of Western Australia.

    Working towards production

    It’s the latest in a long line of milestones the ASX mining company has been ticking off at the project, where it expects to start commercial concentrate production in the second half of 2027.

    Boab signed a deal with Sandfire Resources Ltd (ASX: SFR) back in April 2025 to buy the DeGrussa Processing plant, with the deal subject to a number of conditions, including Boab making a final investment decision and gaining regulatory approval for the Sorby Hills mine.

    Boab said this week:

    On 18 May the Company announced that all conditions precedent to the acquisition had been satisfied and the transaction completed on Friday 22 May 2026. Located in the Meekatharra region of Western Australia, the world-class DeGrussa Copper Mine was built and operated by Sandfire as their flagship project between 2011-2024. The DeGrussa Processing Plant includes a primary crusher, ore storage bin, ball mill, SAG mill, flotation circuit, concentrate and tailings thickeners and an extensive list of new spares all fit-for-purpose for the proposed Sorby Hills process plant flowsheet and sized to achieve the targeted 100ktpa concentrate production rate.

    Boab said early engineering works and the ordering of long lead time items had now started for the Sorby project, and “construction teams will be mobilised to the respective sites in the coming weeks”.

    Shares looking cheap

    Shaw and Partners released a new research note this week on Boab Metals, stating that they had visited the project.

    They added:

    The early site works are complete, with a key piece of enabling infrastructure, the site-access road, in place. The site camp is under construction and the ground works for the process plant and non-process infrastructure is underway. Early mining activities at the B pit have also commenced where the cover is being removed and used for on-site construction materials. A key take-away from our site visit was the strong support Boab and the Sorby Hills Project are receiving from the local community. Sorby Hills will replace Argyle Diamonds as a key employer in the region.

    Shaw said the economics of the project were materially enhanced at the spot silver price compared to the price used in the assumptions used by the company.

    Shaw and Partners has a price target of $1.70 on Boab Metals shares, compared with 40 cents currently.

    Boab Metals was added to the All Ordinaries Index at its March 23 rebalance.

    The post Looking to 4x your money? Shaw and Partners has tipped this miner for big things appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Boab Metals right now?

    Before you buy Boab Metals shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Boab Metals wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    * Returns as of 20 Feb 2026

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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.

  • Buy, hold, sell: Catapult Sports, Guzman Y Gomez, and Wesfarmers shares

    A male sharemarket analyst sits at his desk looking intently at his laptop with two other monitors next to him showing stock price movements

    Buy, hold, sell: Catapult, Guzman Y Gomez, and Wesfarmers shares

    The team at Morgans has been busy looking at a number of popular ASX shares this week.

    Let’s see if the broker is bullish or bearish on these names. Here’s what it is saying:

    Catapult Sports Ltd (ASX: CAT)

    Morgans was pleased with this sports technology company’s performance in FY 2026, highlighting that its revenue and annualised contract value (ACV) were strong. But the biggest positive was arguably that operating leverage is starting to show.

    In response, Morgans has retained its buy rating with a $5.40 price target. It said:

    CAT’s FY26 result confirmed strong organic momentum, with revenue US$141m (+19% c/c) and closing ACV US$134m (+28% c/c) at the top of guidance, while Management EBITDA of US$25m (17.6% margin, +67% pcp) beat MorgansF. Operating leverage is now evident, with a 41% incremental margin (48% ex-acquisitions) in the period. ACV per pro team crossed US$30k for the first time whilst SaaS metrics improved. We trim FY27-FY29F Management EBITDA by 6-8% factoring in the result. Our price target is lowered to A$5.40 (from A$5.55) on these changes, offset to a degree by a valuation roll forward. BUY maintained.

    Guzman Y Gomez Ltd (ASX: GYG)

    The broker was pleased to see this quick service restaurant operator decide to close its US operations with immediate effect.

    While this removes a potential growth engine, it also removes a loss-making part of the business that was weighing on its financial performance and simplifies its story.

    Morgans has put a buy rating and $29.40 price target on Guzman Y Gomez shares. It said:

    GYG announced the immediate exit of its US operations, a business that we forecast generated a significant FY26 underlying EBITDA loss and required materially more capital than could be justified by prospective returns. We view this as a positive catalyst, notwithstanding that the market has previously ascribed meaningful optionality value to the US as a long-term growth engine.

    The exit removes a loss sooner than consensus anticipated and simplifies the story while the Australian operations are performing well and in line with expectations. Stripping out the US losses results in material upgrades to our EBITDA and NPAT forecasts. We maintain our BUY rating and upgrade our price target to A$29.40.

    Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES)

    Morgans points out that the Bunnings and Kmart owner’s shares have pulled back meaningfully from their highs.

    It believes this leaves Wesfarmers shares trading at more reasonable valuation. As a result, the broker has upgraded its shares to an accumulate rating with an $81.10 price target. It said:

    WES’s share price has fallen 9% over the past 12 months and 7% over the past 6 months. The stock is now trading on a more reasonable 26.5x FY27F PE compared to a peak one-year forward multiple of ~37x in August 2025. We adjust FY26/27/28F group EBIT by +0%/+2%/+2%, primarily reflecting higher lithium earnings driven by updated price assumptions. Our target price increases slightly to $81.10 (from $80.50) and with a forecast 12-month TSR of 12%, we upgrade our rating to ACCUMULATE (from TRIM).

    In our view, WES remains a high-quality business with a healthy balance sheet and a proven management team. Amid ongoing geopolitical uncertainty and cost-of-living pressures, its retail divisions (Bunnings, Kmart Group, Officeworks, Priceline) are well-placed to grow due to their strong value propositions. A sustained improvement in lithium prices should also support earnings over the medium term.

    The post Buy, hold, sell: Catapult Sports, Guzman Y Gomez, and Wesfarmers shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Catapult Sports right now?

    Before you buy Catapult Sports shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Catapult Sports wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    * Returns as of 20 Feb 2026

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

  • What does a takeover in the US tell us about the value of Telix shares?

    A doctor appears shocked as he looks through binoculars on a blue background.

    A US$7 billion takeover rumoured to be on foot in the US could give investors a better sense of the upside in Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: TLX) shares, according to the team at Morgan Stanley.

    Takeover talks behind closed doors

    Bloomberg News has reported that private equity-backed Curium Pharma has made an approach to Lantheus Holdings, which operates in the same drug compound field as Telix – radiopharmaceuticals for use in the treatment of prostate cancer.

    Neither company is commenting on the supposed deal; however, Morgan Stanley said the rumoured deal numbers could be used to extrapolate a value for Telix.

    Lantheus and Telix were both “key players” in the field of prostate cancer detection, Morgan Stanley said, with Lantheus through its Pylarify compound and Telix through Illuccix and Gozellix.

    The Morgan Stanley team said the deal price implies a higher multiple than Telix is trading at currently, and if the multiple were applied to Telix, a share price of $18.40 to $18.95 would be on the cards.

    Morgan Stanley has also factored in the revenue and R&D guidance for this year from Telix, “and risk-weighted contributions from late-stage candidates”, and has come up with a 12-month price target of $22.40 for Telix shares.

    This compares with the current share price of $12.83.

    Business travelling well

    Telix Chief Executive Officer Christian Behrenbuch told the company’s annual general meeting last week that the company’s core commercial business was performing “extremely well”, with the company continuing to take market share in the US.

    He added:

    In Q1 2026, our Precision Medicine revenue was up 11% quarter-on-quarter to US$186 million with 5% volume growth. We affirm our full-year 2026 Group revenue guidance of US$950 million to US$970 million based on strong uptake of Gozellix and continued growth from Illuccix. This guidance also includes revenue from RLS Radiopharmacies. We also affirm our previously stated research and development (R&D) expenditure guidance of US$200 million to US$240 million, subject to achieving ongoing global commercial milestones.

    Mr Behrenbuch said the US remained the company’s primary revenue driver, but added that it was also expanding internationally, with Illuccix now available in 22 countries.

    He added:

    In January, we announced acceptance of the New Drug Application (NDA) for Illuccix in China9, while in Japan we continue to progress a Phase 3 bridging study. We are also preparing to advance our NDA submission under Japan’s conditional approval framework, with the objective of enabling earlier commercial access.  

    Mr Behrenbuch said Telix was continuing to advance its therapeutic pipeline, “with multiple late-stage studies gaining momentum”.

    Telix is valued at $4.56 billion.

    The post What does a takeover in the US tell us about the value of Telix shares? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Telix Pharmaceuticals right now?

    Before you buy Telix Pharmaceuticals shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Telix Pharmaceuticals wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    * Returns as of 20 Feb 2026

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

  • Buy, hold, sell: Argo Investments, Amcor, Bapcor shares

    Broker looking at the share price on her laptop with green and red points in the background.

    S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares are down 0.4% to 8,655.2 points on Tuesday.

    Among the 11 market sectors, consumer discretionary shares are in the lead, up 0.3%, while utilities are the laggard, down 1.9%.

    Let’s find out how the experts rate three stocks across three different sectors today.

    Argo Investments Ltd (ASX: ARG)

    The Argo Investments share price is $8.80, down 0.1% today and 3% over the past six months.

    Jed Richards from Shaw and Partners has a buy rating on this listed investment company (LIC).

    He explained why on The Bull this week:

    This listed investment company is trading at a material discount to its underlying asset value, offering an attractive entry point.

    It provides broad diversity across leading Australian companies and pays a reliable fully franked dividend yield, which was recently above 4.4 per cent.

    Recent results highlight steady income growth and a strong balance sheet. Its conservative style suits investors seeking income and stability.

    Buying at a discount enhances long term return potential, while maintaining exposure to high quality Australian equities.

    Amcor CDI (ASX: AMC)

    The Amcor share price is $54.50, down 0.8% today and 17% over the past six months.

    Richards gives Amcor shares a hold rating.

    He said: 

    This packaging giant continues to face pressure from elevated input costs, particularly linked to higher oil and plastic prices, which have impacted margins. Despite this, the company maintains strong global operations and continues to generate stable cash flow.

    A weaker share price provides an attractive dividend yield for income investors.

    Recent updates indicate increased costs have been passed through to customers.

    Holding is appropriate given its defensive packaging exposure, but upside will likely depend on managing input costs.

    Bapcor Ltd (ASX: BAP)

    The Bapcor share price is 39 cents, up 1.3% today but down a demoralising 77% over six months.

    Mark Elzayed from Investor Pulse has a sell rating on this consumer discretionary share.

    Elzayed said: 

    Bapcor is an aftermarket automotive parts provider in Australia and New Zealand. It operates the Autobarn, Burson and Autopro brands.

    It reported improving sales from turnaround activities between February and April 2026. However, trading conditions had materially deteriorated since late March 2026 in response to the Middle East conflict and an increase in interest rates.

    It has reduced fiscal year 2026 earnings guidance on what it provided on February 26, 2026. The company also flagged higher operating costs.

    The share price remains under pressure. The stock has fallen from $5.22 on July 14, 2025 to trade at 38 cents on May 21, 2026.

    Better options exist elsewhere, in our view.

    The post Buy, hold, sell: Argo Investments, Amcor, Bapcor shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Bapcor right now?

    Before you buy Bapcor shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Bapcor wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    * Returns as of 20 Feb 2026

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

  • Record high: This ASX stock is surging on new project wins

    Engineer on a laptop.

    GR Engineering Services Ltd (ASX: GNG) shares are having a big session on Tuesday after the engineering contractor was named across several fresh project updates.

    At the time of writing, the GR Engineering share price is up 5.76% to $5.51.

    Earlier today, the stock climbed as high as $5.62, marking a new all-time high.

    Some profit-taking has since come through, but it has still been a strong day for shareholders.

    GR Engineering shares are now up around 24% in 2026 and 92% over the past year.

    The latest move comes as investors react to more contract work across the mining and processing sector.

    Here’s what was announced.

    More work at Laverton

    GR Engineering said it has locked in an engineering, procurement and construction contract with Brightstar Resources Ltd (ASX: BTR).

    The contract relates to Brightstar’s Laverton Processing Plant in Western Australia.

    The company was appointed as the preferred contractor for the project on 17 February, and early works and long-lead item procurement have already commenced.

    The contract sum is $110 million.

    Brightstar also released its own update today, confirming a final investment decision for its Goldfields Project.

    The company said construction of the 1.5 million tonne per annum Laverton plant has now been approved.

    It also said first gold remains on track for June 2027.

    Sorby Hills adds another contract

    The Laverton contract was not the only update involving GR Engineering today.

    Boab Metals Ltd (ASX: BML) also confirmed that it has executed an EPC contract with GR Engineering for its Sorby Hills silver-lead project.

    Sorby Hills is located in the Kimberley region of Western Australia.

    The contract covers the disassembly, refurbishment, and relocation of the existing DeGrussa processing plant to Sorby Hills.

    Once moved, the plant will be reconstructed and commissioned to suit Boab’s requirements.

    Boab said the EPC contract has a value of $109 million.

    Early engineering works and ordering of long-lead items have started, with construction teams expected to mobilise in the coming weeks.

    The company said on-site development at Sorby Hills is ramping up, with commercial concentrate production still on track for the second half of 2027.

    Why the new work stands out

    The market appears to be rewarding the size and spread of the new work.

    GR Engineering has now been linked to about $219 million of EPC contract work across the Laverton and Sorby Hills updates.

    That is a decent amount of new work for a business that was worth about $887 million before today’s rise.

    It also comes during a busy run for the contractor, with recent work tied to the Dayhurst Expansion ProjectTower Hill Project, and Beetalo Basin.

    The latest contracts also show GR Engineering is still finding work as miners move projects closer to construction.

    The post Record high: This ASX stock is surging on new project wins appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Gr Engineering Services right now?

    Before you buy Gr Engineering Services shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Gr Engineering Services wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    * Returns as of 20 Feb 2026

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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.