Category: Stock Market

The BlueScope Steel Ltd (ASX: BSL) share price is in focus today as Tania Archibald steps into the role of Managing Director and CEO, succeeding Mark Vassella. Ms Archibald launches her tenure with a fresh agenda to accelerate value for shareholders, highlighting the company’s nearly completed $2 billion investment program and continued commitment to operational excellence.

What did BlueScope Steel report?

• Tania Archibald officially commenced as MD & CEO on 2 February 2026
• BlueScope’s current $2 billion investment program is approaching completion
• The company expects stronger cash flows as investment phase wraps up
• Announced ongoing $200 million cost and productivity program
• $4.2 billion returned to shareholders and $3.7 billion invested in growth during the previous CEO’s tenure
• Special dividend of $1.00 per share recently announced

What else do investors need to know?

BlueScope is pushing ahead with its ambition to simplify operations, targeting an additional ~$150 million in annualised cost improvements by 30 June 2026. The company also plans to unlock value from its 1,200 hectares of surplus land by seeking multiple commercial partners, starting in the next few months.

The board has rejected a recent takeover approach from SGH Holdings and Steel Dynamics, stating it undervalued BlueScope significantly. Management emphasised the company remains open to any future proposals that better reflect its underlying value.

What did BlueScope Steel management say?

Managing Director and CEO Tania Archibald said:

It’s a privilege to step into the role of BlueScope’s MD&CEO with a clear mandate to deliver value to our shareholders. Our current $2 billion investment program is now entering the final phase. We’re poised to deliver strong cash flows. And I intend to capitalise on it for the benefit of shareholders.

What’s next for BlueScope Steel?

Ms Archibald has laid out four immediate initiatives for her first year: executing ongoing programs, streamlining teams, accelerating surplus land value, and evolving the company’s balance sheet to lift shareholder returns. These moves aim to sharpen BlueScope’s focus on productivity, customer value, and cash generation as it moves out of its heavy investment phase.

An update on this new program and progress towards key targets is due at BlueScope’s half-year results on 16 February 2026.

BlueScope Steel share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, BlueScope Steel shares have risen 42%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 6% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post BlueScope Steel: New CEO Tania Archibald sets out fresh value-focused agenda appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Laura Stewart 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. This article was prepared with the assistance of Large Language Model (LLM) tools for the initial summary of the company announcement. Any content assisted by AI is subject to our robust human-in-the-loop quality control framework, involving thorough review, substantial editing, and fact-checking by our experienced writers and editors holding appropriate credentials. The Motley Fool Australia stands behind the work of our editorial team and takes ultimate responsibility for the content published by The Motley Fool Australia.

When one expert thinks an ASX share is a buy, that’s interesting. When numerous analysts think a business is a buy, that could be a clear indication that the business is a potential opportunity.

I’m going to talk about a couple of businesses that are some of the most highly-rated ASX shares on the Australian stock exchange.

Time will tell whether they’re able to live up to the hype of analysts, but there are promising signs.

Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: TLX)

According to a Commsec collation of analyst ratings on this business, there are currently 16 buy ratings.

Broker UBS is one that rates Telix as a buy. It describes the business as an Australian biotechnology company that’s engaged in developing and commercialising radiopharmaceuticals – drugs which are conjugated to molecules that are radioactive or will undergo radioactive decay.

UBS has a price target of $31 on the company, suggesting a possible rise of close to 200% within the next year.

The broker noted that the 2025 fourth-quarter group revenue was $208 million, an increase of 1% year-over-year, below UBS’s estimate of $219 million.

While that was below expectations, UBS said it was encouraged by the continued volume growth and the average sales price (ASP) growth in the fourth quarter, likely indicating continued Illuccix and Gozellix (Telix products) continued penetration in outpatient hospitals.

UBS suggested that the ASX share’s high-quality customer services is well-liked by radiologists, making Illuccix and Gozellix “sticky”.

UBS concluded:

We believe the stock was under pressure due to 2 CRLs, PSMA diagnostics pricing headwind, TLX591 data delays, and SEC investigations. We believe these overhangs should start to resolve in 2026, starting with Pixclara resubmission and TLX591 Part 1 data in the upcoming weeks.

Importantly, FY26 guidance in the upcoming weeks should set a tone on Gozellix growth expectations in 2026 and we estimate Illuccix/Gozellix to achieve $776M sales in 2026 (24% y/y growth). Overall, we model PSMA diagnostics franchise alone would be worth $16.6/share. We see the current stock price as undervalued fundamentally.

Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO)

Cloud accounting software provider Xero is another very popular ASX share with analysts. According to the Commsec collation of analyst opinions on the business, there are currently 12 buy ratings on the company.

UBS is one of the brokers that rates Xero as a buy, with a price target of $194. That implies the company could more than double within the next 12 months.

The broker noted that the decline of the Xero share price of around 50% since June 2025 is because of AI concerns, the Melio acquisition and US profitability.

UBS thinks the market isn’t pricing in any value for Melio (which cost $4 billion) nor the majority of its international segment.

The broker thinks there could be improving losses at Melio, accelerating core accounting growth in Australia and the UK, and cross-selling benefits in the US.

UBS suggests the Melio operating loss (EBITDA) will narrow “meaningfully” in FY27 and break even in FY30.

The broker also believes that Xero’s core accounting (including the US) can grow revenue at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17% over the next three years, with stronger operating profit growth thanks to price rises and general scale, particularly thanks to subscriber momentum in Australia and the UK.

UBS estimates that by FY30 the company could generate NZ$928 million of annual net profit.

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

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• 3 ASX 200 shares I would buy in February
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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 Telix Pharmaceuticals and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Xero. 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.

If you are wanting to buy an ASX 200 gold stock after the selloff, then it could be worth considering Genesis Minerals Ltd (ASX: GMD) shares.

That’s the view of analysts at Bell Potter, which sees a lot of value in this record-breaking gold miner.

What is the broker saying?

Bell Potter was impressed with Genesis Minerals’ performance in the second quarter, noting that it outperformed both its own and consensus expectations. It said:

GMD hit records across the portfolio, broadly beating our expectations and consensus. GMD produced 74koz Au (BPe 66koz Au, VA 68koz) +3% QoQ. Laverton – 43koz Au (BPe 39koz, VA 44koz). Leonora – 31koz Au (BPe 27koz, VA 24koz). Gold sales over the quarter were 71koz at an average realized gold price of A$6,057/oz (BPe A$5,900, VA A$6,325/oz). Revenue was A$432m (+6% QoQ; BPe $408m, VA $432m). AISC was A$2,578/oz (+2% QoQ; BPe A$2,731/oz, VA A$2,632/oz).

The good news is that the broker believes the ASX 200 gold stock will build on this in the second half of the financial year with increased productivity and hit the upper end of its guidance range. Though, it concedes that a change of contractor could be somewhat testing. It adds:

The 2HFY26 looks to be shaping up nicely, with increased productivity anticipated in 4Q particularly at Jupiter and Hub, with stripping and pre-stripping investments being made over 3Q. GMD announced the transfer of mining contractors to Byrnecut (from Macmahon), and whilst the expectation is for a relatively smooth transfer, short-term teething issues may present. Byrnecut were the historical contractor at Gwalia when it was owned by St Barbara, so the history with the asset is a positive.

Barring any material disruptions, we anticipate GMD to track to the upper end of guidance (260- 290koz) particularly as third-party processing rolls off in the 3QFY26 (there may be minimal spillage into 4Q) and greater ore from Jupiter feeds the Laverton mill. Nearterm catalysts include Reserve and Resource update and the five-year outlook which will include details on mill expansions (2HFY26). EPS changes in this report: FY26 +35%, FY27 +17% and FY28 +8%.

Time to buy

In response to the update, the broker has retained its buy rating on the ASX 200 gold stock and lifted its price target to $9.90 (from $8.65).

Based on its current share price of $7.59, this implies potential upside of 30% for investors over the next 12 months.

Commenting on its buy recommendation, the broker said:

We increase our TP to $9.90 on adjustments to our gold price outlook and incorporation of our 2QFY26 result and maintain our Buy recommendation. We believe GMD to be a high-quality gold producer, expanding production underpinned by a large Mineral Resource portfolio (18.6Moz), into a rising gold price environment.

The post Buy this record-breaking ASX 200 gold stock after the selloff: Expert appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 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.

Quality doesn’t always come cheap on the ASX. However, when strong ASX shares fall out of favour, opportunity can open up.

REA Group Ltd (ASX: REA), Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME) and GQG Partners Inc. (ASX: GQG) are three high-profile names on the ASX that have seen their share prices retreat 20% or even 40% in the past 6 months. This despite retaining long-term growth drivers.

For investors willing to look past short-term volatility, these beaten-down ASX shares could offer attractive upside from current levels.

REA Group Ltd (ASX: REA)

REA Group shares have cooled significantly after a strong run over recent years. The ASX share pulled back sharply 21% in the past 6 months to $189.75 at the time of writing.  

The fall of the blue chip share was a result of higher interest rates and softer housing activity that weighed on listing volumes and sentiment.

Despite that, REA’s underlying business remains one of the strongest digital marketplaces on the ASX. Realestate.com.au dominates Australian property listings, giving the company pricing power and resilient margins.

Revenue growth can slow when property markets cool, and regulatory scrutiny remains a risk, but history shows activity eventually rebounds. If housing turnover stabilises, REA’s earnings leverage could drive a renewed re-rating.

Most brokers see the ASX 200 share as a buy, with an average 12-month price target of $235.05. That points to a 45% upside.

Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME)

This ASX healthcare share has also experienced a meaningful pullback after years of exceptional gains. The company’s share price surged as its medical imaging software won major hospital contracts globally, but valuation concerns and broader growth stock sell-offs have taken some heat out of the rally.

The ASX 200 share lost 42% of its value in the past 6 months and currently trades at $184.12 apiece. No wonder most analysts see serious upside ahead. The consensus price target for the ASX share is set at $296.19, a potential gain of 61% for the next 12 months.

Brokers think that Pro Medicus’ long-term story remains compelling. The ASX share operates a high-margin, capital-light business with sticky customers and recurring revenue.

The main risk lies in its premium valuation and reliance on hospital spending cycles, which can delay contract decisions. Even so, continued global rollout of its technology supports the case that recent weakness may represent an entry point rather than a warning sign.

GQG Partners Inc. (ASX: GQG)

GQG Partners rounds out the trio as a very different kind of opportunity. The price of the ASX share has drifted 23% lower over 6 months amid market volatility and periods of investor outflows.

As an active manager, GQG’s earnings are tied to assets under management, which can fall quickly when performance lags benchmarks. That said, the business still generates strong cash flows, operates with a low-cost structure and pays a generous dividend.

If markets improve and performance stabilises, sentiment could turn quickly. Market watchers rate the current valuation of $1.57 as overly pessimistic. They think the ASX share could climb to $2.06 in the next 12 months, a potential upside of 31%.  

The post Why these beaten-down ASX shares are worth a second look appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 recommended Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Gqg Partners and Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

At the start of each week, I like to look at ASIC’s short position report to find out which shares are being targeted by short sellers.

This is because I believe it is well worth keeping a close eye on short interest levels as high levels can sometimes be a sign that something isn’t quite right with a company.

With that in mind, here are the 10 most shorted shares on the ASX this week according to ASIC:

• Domino’s Pizza Enterprises Ltd (ASX: DMP) remains the most shorted ASX share with short interest of 17%. Though, this is down slightly week on week again. Short sellers seem to be doubting that this pizza chain operator’s turnaround strategy will be a success.
• Boss Energy Ltd (ASX: BOE) has seen its short interest reduce again to 16.2%. This uranium producer’s shares have rallied strongly since the start of the year. This has been driven by optimism over uranium demand and prices.
• Guzman Y Gomez Ltd (ASX: GYG) has short interest of 13.7%, which is down slightly week on week. Disappointment over this taco and burrito seller’s performance in the United States could be behind this. After all, this market is a key part of analysts’ growth assumptions.
• Treasury Wine Estates Ltd (ASX: TWE) has seen its short interest rise to 13.3%. This wine giant is going through a tough period. This includes facing distributor uncertainty in the United States and unfavourable consumer trends.
• IDP Education Ltd (ASX: IEL) has 12.8% of its shares held short, which is up week on week again. Student visa changes in key markets are negatively impacting the company’s performance and outlook.
• Polynovo Ltd (ASX: PNV) has short interest of 12.1%, which is up since last week. This is likely to be due to concerns over this medical device company’s valuation.
• Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT) is back in the top ten with short interest of 11.5%. Short sellers may believe that consumer trends could put pressure on the travel agent’s revenue margin outlook.
• Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: TLX) has short interest of 11.4%, which is up slightly week on week. Traders may be concerned that this radiopharmaceuticals company could struggle again with its FDA approvals in 2026.
• Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN) has short interest of 10.8%, which is down sharply week on week. This uranium producer’s shares have been on fire this year, which appears to have led to short sellers closing positions in a hurry.
• DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO) has returned to the top ten with short interest of 10.1%. Short sellers may believe the market is being too bullish on this counter-drone technology company’s growth outlook.

The post These are the 10 most shorted ASX shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Domino’s Pizza Enterprises and Treasury Wine Estates. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Domino’s Pizza Enterprises, DroneShield, PolyNovo, Telix Pharmaceuticals, and Treasury Wine Estates. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Treasury Wine Estates. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Domino’s Pizza Enterprises, Flight Centre Travel Group, PolyNovo, and Telix Pharmaceuticals. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Wistech Global (ASX:WTC), Xero Ltd (ASX:XRO) and Bapcor Ltd (ASX:BAP) have all dropped around 50% in the last 12 months. Investors must now decide if these falls are a sign of further difficulties ahead or a measure of short-term sentiment.

Is Wisetech stock priced to buy?

The Wisetech share price has fallen around 50% from its peak of almost $130 in early Feb 2025. Declines in 2025 were largely driven by market pressure on high growth high valuation stocks as well as investor caution around the integration risks of its US $2.1 billion acquisition of e2open.

Coming into 2026, continued weak sentiment in high valuation stocks and a period of decelerated growth for the company are continuing the trend.

However, despite these headwinds, its core business continues to prosper. Wisetech’s global logistics and supply chain software, CargoWise, reports solid results and continued, if decelerating, growth. And some brokers remain bullish, buoyed by the software’s defensive moat against AI.

The question for investors is whether the share price can return to its previous highs. While the current price may not amount to a universal buy signal, it could prove an attractive entry point for long-term investors, albeit with some higher risk attached.  

Is Xero stock priced to buy?

February 2025 saw Xero trading at around $180 per share but has recently dropped below the $100 mark. Still a hefty price tag, but is it a steal for one of our most high-profile tech growth stocks?

There is no single event driving the share price declines for Xero. A combination of sector headwinds, acquisition decisions and overvaluation concern in growth stocks have fuelled the sell-off.

In June 2025, Xero announced the acquisition of US-based bill pay platform, Melio, in a bid to expand its footprint in the lucrative US market. But the US $2.5 billion price tag and the decision to partly finance the purchase through the issue of new shares left some investors cold. In addition, some investors worried that the acquisition wouldn’t produce results, given the more competitive US landscape.

That said, Xero continues to post revenue growth and strong cashflow. And the potential in the US market is significant, if it can execute. Given its track record of disciplined growth over the last few years, I believe it can.

For me, Xero remains a solid option for long-term investors. There is a valid question around whether it can return to the lofty valuations of early 2025. However, if it makes a successful play in the US market with Melio, I believe it will deliver some solid returns in years to come.

Is Bapcor stock priced to buy?

Aftermarket automotive parts provider, Bapcor, has experienced share price declines of over 50% in the last year, from highs above the $5 mark in February 2025. The drop has been driven by a combination of earnings downgrades, operational disruption and notable leadership movements. In addition, lower discretionary consumer spending has impacted its retail business.

In December 2025, Bapcor reported an expected net loss of $5-8 million for the first half of FY2026, down from a profit forecast of $3-7 million. This represented its second downgrade of the year, after initially anticipating $14-18 million in profit.

On the leadership front, the company announced the appointment of experienced CEO, Chris Wilesmith (ex Jaycar Electronics, Mitre 10 and Supercheap Auto) on 18 December 2025. Response to the move was positive, with the share price jumping 12%. But it has come on the tail of significant group leadership movement that has left some investors wary.

At this point, Bapcor is a turnaround play. The experienced hand of Wilesmith at the helm offers some reassurance. But there is a significant journey ahead.

For me, Bapcor is one for the watch list, for now. However, more risk-tolerant investors may see an opportunity at current prices.  

The post Down 50% from recent highs: Is it time to buy these ASX stocks? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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

The ASX dividend stock WCM Quality Global Growth Fund (ASX: WCMQ) has dropped around 4% since mid-January, as the chart below shows. There are a few reasons I think the investment is a top buy for passive income today, even though the decline isn’t large.

This is an exchange-traded fund (ETF) that is operated by the investment team at WCM Investment Management. WCM is based in Laguna Beach, Southern California. On its choice of location, the fund manager says:

We are conveniently located 2,805 miles from the groupthink of Wall Street.

There are a couple of key reasons why I think this is a compelling ASX dividend stock after its small decline.

Excellent investment strategy

The fund aims to own between 20 and 40 stocks that it views as quality global growth companies.

Its strategy prioritises companies with a durable and improving competitive advantage (meaning a positive trajectory of the economic moat).

The investment team believes that the corporate culture has a critical role in driving shareholder value and ensuring ongoing improvement of the economic moat.  

It aims to maintain a focused portfolio of high-conviction holdings it believes can deliver strong investment returns.

Finally, WCM says that thoughtful portfolio construction “enhances the potential for robust performance in different market backdrops”.

By following this strategy, the WCMQ ETF’s portfolio has delivered an average net return of 15.9% per year since it started in August 2018, outperforming the global share market by an average of 2.8% per year during that time.

Some of the names in its current portfolio include AppLovin, Taiwan Semiconductor, Amazon, Rolls Royce and Tencent.

Why it’s a strong ASX dividend stock pick

I haven’t mentioned anything about its passive income potential yet, so let’s look at that aspect.

The fund has a specified target of delivering a minimum annualised cash yield of 5% per year.

I’d suggest that this immediately makes the fund attractive as a dividend investment.

Past performance is not a guarantee of future outcomes, in terms of the fund’s net returns. However, it does have a good track record of delivering long-term double-digit returns that I think can be continued.

The level of net returns the fund is producing means it can pay a 5% dividend yield and see the capital value of the fund increase over time. A higher unit price means a higher future payout in the coming year.

For example, a 5% dividend yield on a $10 unit price is a 50 cents per unit payout. If the unit price grows to $11 then the next payout would rise to 55 cents per unit.

I’m optimistic that the WCMQ can deliver a good dividend yield, growing payouts and capital growth in the coming years.

The post 1 ASX dividend stock down 4% I’d buy right now! 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 Amazon, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, and Tencent. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Rolls-Royce Plc. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Amazon. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

If you are wanting some exposure to the smaller side of the market, then it could be worth considering the two small cap ASX shares in this article.

That’s because they have just been named as buys by analysts at Bell Potter. Here’s why the broker is bullish on these names:

6K Additive Inc (ASX: 6KA)

The first small cap ASX share that Bell Potter is tipping as a buy is 6K Additive.

It is a US-based manufacturer, upcycling metal scrap into premium metal powders and alloying additives. Bell Potter highlights that its patented UniMelt technology can produce spherical powders for additive manufacturing across a range of high-end reactive metals, refractory metals, and alloys.

This includes titanium, Inconel, C103 and tantalum. Compared with incumbent spheroidisation processes, UniMelt has materially lower energy consumption, achieves higher product yield, and upcycles manufacturing waste.

The broker believes the small cap has a competitive advantage and is well-placed to benefit from increased defence spending. It said:

6KA has a competitive advantage in the production of high-value metal powders for the fast-growing global Additive Manufacturing sector. The company’s UniMelt systems are energy efficient, high yield and accept recycled metal feedstock. 6KA is supporting US-based reshoring of critical metal supply.

Company value is highly leveraged to the take-up of Additive Manufacturing, which has lead-time advantages over incumbent casting and forging production methods. We expect Additive Manufacturing to be a beneficiary of the US Department of War’s Acquisition Transformation Strategy to support rebuilding the country’s Defense Industrial Base.

Bell Potter has a speculative buy rating and $1.45 price target on its shares.

WRKR Ltd (ASX: WRK)

Another small cap ASX share that Bell Potter is bullish on is WRKR. It is a regulation technology company for Australian employers across the employee lifecycle. The company has a core focus on managing superannuation compliance events, providing payment processing and onboarding solutions.

Bell Potter was pleased with the company’s performance during the second quarter. It said:

WRK delivered another standout cash collection result, with $3.2m cash receipts from customers in 2Q26. The print was negatively impacted by $0.9m late invoices which have since been collected. This is expected to benefit the 3Q26 result.

Cash receipts, adjusted for timing differences, grew +68% YOY and +13% QOQ pro-forma reflecting: 1) consistent recurring revenue linked to transactional activity through Wrkr PAY (71% FY25 revenue); 2) Ongoing developments for Australian Retirement Trust, with their Employer Online portal being a new mention, and further work on the Beam platform; and 3) milestone payments related to MUFG Australian and Hong Kong agreements, in addition to monthly support and maintenance fees for the Hong Kong platform.

In response, the broker has retained its buy rating with an improved price target of 18.5 cents.

The post Bell Potter names 2 small cap ASX shares to buy appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Buy this record-breaking ASX 200 gold stock after the selloff: Expert
• Why these beaten-down ASX shares are worth a second look
• These are the 10 most shorted ASX shares
• Down 50% from recent highs: Is it time to buy these ASX stocks?
• 1 ASX dividend stock down 4% I’d buy right now!

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.

There are a lot of ASX dividend shares to choose from on the Australian share market.

Three smart picks according to analysts are named below. Here’s what they are expecting from them:

Cedar Woods Properties Limited (ASX: CWP)

The first ASX dividend share that could be a buy according to analysts is Cedar Woods.

It is one of Australia’s leading property developers with a portfolio that is diversified by geography, price point, and product type. This includes subdivisions in emerging residential communities, high-density apartments, and townhouses in inner-city neighbourhoods.

Bell Potter is a big fan of Cedar Woods. It believes the company is well-positioned to benefit from Australia’s chronic housing shortage.

The broker expects this to support dividends per share of 35 cents in FY 2026 and then 39 cents in FY 2027. Based on its current share price of $8.09, this equates to 4.3% and 4.7% dividend yields, respectively.

Bell Potter has a buy rating and $10.00 price target on its shares.

Jumbo Interactive Ltd (ASX: JIN)

Another ASX dividend share that could be a smart buy according to analysts is Jumbo Interactive.

It is an online lottery ticket seller and lottery platform provider, best known for its Oz Lotteries app and Powered by Jumbo platform.

The team at Macquarie believes it is positioned to reward shareholders with fully franked dividends of 39.5 cents per share in FY 2026 and then 54 cents per share in FY 2027. Based on its current share price of $10.26, this would mean dividend yields of 3.85% and 5.25%, respectively.

The broker currently has an outperform rating and $14.60 price target on its shares.

Rural Funds Group (ASX: RFF)

A third and final ASX dividend share for smart investors to look at is Rural Funds.

It is a property company that owns agricultural assets such as cattle properties, vineyards, and cropping land. Rural Funds leases these properties to high-quality tenants on long-term agreements with periodic rental increases built in.

This gives Rural Funds great visibility on its future earnings and has allowed it to grow its dividend at a consistent rate for many years.

Bell Potter is expecting the company to reward shareholders with an 11.7 cents per share dividend in both FY 2026 and FY 2027. Based on its current share price of $2.03, this would mean attractive 5.8% dividend yields.

The broker has a buy rating and $2.45 price target on its shares.

The post 3 ASX dividend shares for smart investors to buy appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

If there’s one S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) share that has captured the imagination of growth investors over the past few years, it’s Life360 Inc (ASX: 360).

Once best known as a family-tracking app, the ASX 200 share has transformed into a broader digital safety and subscription-monetisation platform with growing international reach.

But with recent share price volatility, strategic pivots and evolving revenue models front of mind, investors ask: Can Life360 still climb from here?

True tech script

The price swings of the ASX 200 tech share have lived up to the tech stock script â€” rapid rises, sharp pullbacks and renewed rally phases. After rolling out upgraded guidance for FY2025 and a strong Q4 showing, the stock has swung significantly.

In the past 6 months Life360 has shed 31% of its value to $6.5 billion. The start of 2026 also hasn’t been great with a loss of almost 15% at the time of writing. However, long-term holders are still well ahead thanks to years of growth, with the stock up well over 600% in the past 5 years.   

What do analysts think?

Analyst sentiment remains broadly positive. Trading View consensus leans toward buy with average 12-month price targets suggesting meaningful upside potential. Some forecasts show possible gains of 60% to 80% or more from the current share price of $27.42.

Bell Potter has just reiterated a buy rating on the ASX 200 tech share, setting a price target of $45.00 per share. The broker is encouraged by the company’s strong growth in paying circles and expects this momentum to continue as more monthly active users convert to paid subscribers.

Bell Potter also points to Life360’s potential to disrupt adjacent markets as a key upside driver. 

Digital global safety platform

The transformation of the ASX 200 stock from a simple locator app into a global subscription and digital safety platform is a core strength. The company has delivered significant user growth â€” with monthly active users approaching or exceeding 90 million — and growing subscription adoption. 

Expanding into higher-margin advertising via acquisitions and tech integrations — such as the Nativo deal — also offers a revenue diversification path beyond subscriptions. 

Tech growth focussed

Life360 isn’t without its challenges. The ASX 200 share doesn’t pay dividends, reflecting its tech-growth focus rather than an income orientation. So, it’s a non-starter for dividend-seeking investors. 

Additionally, profitability has been improving, but the business model still leans on continued subscription growth and effective monetisation of non-paying users. Advertising and data monetisation strategies have clear promise, but they also attract privacy scrutiny and competitive pressure, particularly from tech giants. 

Foolish Takeaway

From a valuation and growth standpoint, Life360 still has ample fuel left in the tank. Continued subscriber expansion, international penetration, and diversification into ads and premium services create multiple levers for revenue growth. Analyst price targets and upgrades suggest there’s unpriced potential if these trends continue. 

But investors should expect volatility, execution risk and no dividend income as part of ownership. The ASX 200 tech stock feels more like a growth play than a safe yield stock. It could be powerful if you believe in its expanding ecosystem, less so if you’re chasing stable cash flow.

The post Can this ASX 200 tech share power higher from here? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 Life360. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Life360. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.