Category: Stock Market

It has been a rough 2026 for ASX consumer discretionary stock Temple & Webster Group (ASX: TPW). 

The company is an online-only retailer of furniture and homewares. Some of its products include office furniture, lighting, rugs, wall art, and home décor.

Since January, its share price has fallen 64%. 

This includes 30% in the last month alone. 

Why are consumer discretionary shares struggling?

Rising interest rates, inflation and cost of living pressures have weighed heavily on ASX consumer discretionary shares. 

The sector relies on consumers having enough disposable income to spend on non-essential items like furniture and homewares. 

As borrowing costs climbed and household budgets tightened, demand weakened, putting pressure on sales growth and investor sentiment toward companies like

However a new report from Bell Potter suggests this struggling consumer discretionary stock could rebound. 

The broker sees 40% upside for the company following its recent trading update.

What did the company report?

Temple & Webster provided FY26 guidance of $665-675m in revenue (up 11% to 12%) and EBITDA of $20-22m (up 6% to 17%) at their recent trading update.

The revenue was a 6% miss to Bell Potter estimates.

The EBITDA at the mid-point was a 5% miss to its forecast. 

According to Bell Potter, the company has recalibrated growth levers and implemented some new pricing/marketing initiatives in Mar-May.

In FY27, the company expect a clear path to achieving ~$40m EBITDA post these initiatives independent of the revenue growth.

Upside remains 

Bell Potter has reduced its price target on this ASX consumer discretionary stock to $7 (previously $13). 

Despite the reduction, the updated price target from Bell Potter still indicates an upside potential of 41% from yesterday’s closing price. 

While our estimates continue to factor in some downside risk to current company expectations/consensus, we see long term valuation support in a high-quality e-commerce retailer with range, pricing/scale advantages, AI/data capability backed by a strong balance sheet (~$160m cash, BPe) to take up inorganic growth opportunities.

It’s worth noting that Bell Potter isn’t the only broker seeing this ASX consumer discretionary as a buy-low candidate. 

Macquarie renewed its buy rating on Temple & Webster shares recently with a $13.70 target. 

This implies a potential 173% upside.

On the bear side, DP Wealth Advisory named this online furniture retailer’s shares as a sell earlier this week.

It thinks that the higher oil prices and interest rates are likely to weigh on discretionary spending.

The post Bell Potter is tipping a 40% rebound for this ASX consumer discretionary stock appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• 3 ASX shares down 70% that could be cheap buys
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• Meet the ASX small-cap healthcare company which could triple this year
• 3 ASX shares down over 60% that could be bargain buys

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

For income investors tracking the ASX banking calendar, this month is a big one.

Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) declared its 2026 interim ordinary dividend on 5 May and the ex-dividend date fell earlier this month.

Here is the full picture of what Westpac is paying and what shareholders can expect for the rest of the year.

What Westpac is paying

Westpac declared a fully franked interim dividend of 77 cents per share, payable on 26 June 2026.

That payment is 100% franked with Australian franking credits at the company tax rate of 30%, and also carries New Zealand imputation credits of NZD 6 cents per share.

Consequently, for Australian taxpayers in higher tax brackets, the effective after-tax yield rises materially above the headline figure once franking credits are grossed up.

Based on Westpac’s current share price of approximately $36.40, the interim dividend implies an annualised yield of around 4.2% on a fully franked basis.

The grossed-up yield, including the value of franking credits at the 30% tax rate, brings the grossed-up yield to around 6.0%.

That compares favourably with term deposit rates currently on offer from the major banks, making Westpac a competitive option for income-focused investors who also want exposure to potential capital growth over time.

What about the full year?

Looking further ahead, consensus analyst estimates on CommSec point to a full-year FY2026 dividend of 155 cents per share for Westpac, up from 153 cents in FY2025.

That implies a final dividend of approximately 78 cents per share, payable in December 2026, following the release of Westpac’s full-year results in early November.

For retirees in the zero tax bracket, those franking credits translate into additional cash refunds.

What the result showed

The interim dividend reflects a solid first-half result for Westpac.

The bank posted statutory net profit of $3.4 billion for the first half of FY2026, up 3% on the prior corresponding period, alongside total lending and deposit growth of 7% year-on-year.

Management’s long-running cost reduction program continues to gain traction.

The bank’s capital position also remains well above regulatory minimums.

However, it is worth noting that several major brokers including Macquarie and Morgan Stanley carry underperform or sell ratings on Westpac shares, citing valuation concerns and competitive pressure in the mortgage market.

Foolish takeaway

Westpac offers income investors a reliable, fully franked dividend stream backed by one of the most systemically important banks in the country.

For investors focused on tax-effective passive income rather than capital growth, the upcoming June payment and the promise of a similar final dividend in December would be encouraging.

The post Here is what Westpac is paying shareholders in June 2026 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• How to build a $150,000 ASX share portfolio from scratch
• Which big four ASX bank stock is the best buy right now?
• Buying Westpac shares? Here’s the yield you’ll get today
• Why is the Macquarie share price falling today?
• What Macquarie’s latest result tells investors about the year ahead

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

DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO) shares closed in the red on Tuesday afternoon.

The shares tumbled 6.07% to close at $2.94 each.

The drone operator’s latest share price tumble means DroneShield shares have now crashed 19% over the past month alone. They’re also 12% lower for the year-to-date but 139% higher than this time 12 months ago.

If I invested $5,000 in DroneShield shares 6 months ago, what are they worth today?

Six months ago, the defence technology company’s shares were trading at $1.97 each. It was around this time that the share price bottomed out after crashing 73% in a six-week time period.

Since then, the shares have climbed 49% to the current trading price.

That means, if you bought $5,000 of DroneShield shares six months ago, on the 19th November, it would be worth around $7,450 today.

Meanwhile, a 139% annual increase means that if you invested the same amount in Droneshield shares 12 months ago, you’d have around $11,950 today.

What has happened to Droneshield shares?

Droneshield shares have fluctuated wildly in the first few months of 2026. Over the year-to-date, DroneShield shares have wavered anywhere between the current trading price and a 2026-high of $4.74 back in January. 

You could argue that, as an Australian defence technology company specialising in counter-drone systems and electronic warfare solutions, Droneshield is one of very few ASX shares which have actually benefitted from rising geopolitical volatility.

In a conflict situation, drones are used for everything from surveillance to direct strikes. This creates a huge demand for counter-drone systems like the ones DroneShield specialises in. This is why governments are hiking their spend on defence, with a focus on anti-drone defence systems. 

And demand continued even after the US and Iran conflict cooled. Meanwhile, Droneshield has also announced several new military contracts and orders recently.

But the reality is, the company operates in a fast-moving industry, expectations are high, timing can be uncertain, sentiment can change direction quickly, and therefore its share price can swing wildly.

Has the drone operator finally come off the boil?

The experts are divided, but it looks like sentiment has cooled.

Last month, three analysts had a strong buy rating on the defence stock, according to TradingView data.

But fast forward to today and there is a very different picture. There are now only two broker ratings; one is a strong buy and the other is a hold.

The average target price for DroneShield shares over the next 12 months has been lowered to $4.10, from $4.50. 

But, at the time of writing, that still implies an impressive 40% upside ahead for investors. 

The post $5,000 invested in DroneShield shares 6 months ago is now worth… appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why DroneShield, Lynas, PLS, and TechnologyOne shares are falling today
• Time to get greedy with DroneShield stock?
• Why I think DroneShield and these ASX growth shares could beat the market over 10 years
• These are the 10 most shorted ASX shares
• Why I would buy CBA and DroneShield shares after selloffs this week

Motley Fool contributor Samantha Menzies has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended DroneShield. 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.

Australia’s compulsory superannuation system is one of the most powerful wealth creation engines in the world.

With total assets now exceeding $4 trillion and set to grow further as the population ages, the businesses that manage and administer that capital are sitting in an enviable position.

Two ASX-listed companies in particular deserve closer attention.

Hub24 Ltd (ASX: HUB)

There is a revolution underway in Australian wealth management, and Hub24 sits at the centre of it.

The company operates one of Australia’s fastest growing investment and superannuation platforms, providing financial advisers, stockbrokers, and their clients with an integrated portfolio administration and technology ecosystem.

In Q3 FY2026, Hub24 delivered $4.0 billion in platform net inflows despite challenging market conditions.

This brought total funds under administration to $151.7 billion, up 22% year-on-year.

Moreover, Hub24 has ranked first for quarterly and annual net inflows for nine consecutive quarters, consistently capturing the largest market share gains of all platform providers.

The company expanded its adviser network by 272 practitioners during the quarter to reach 5,549 total advisers, up 11% year-on-year, a metric that directly underpins future asset growth.

In the first half of FY2026, underlying NPAT surged 60% to $68.3 million, reflecting the powerful operating leverage that emerges as a platform business scales.

Hub24 has upgraded its FY2027 platform FUA target to $160 billion to $170 billion and is rolling out its myhub AI ecosystem, which integrates advice tools, technology, and the core platform into a single seamless experience for advisers.

Perpetual Ltd (ASX: PPT)

Perpetual takes a different approach to capturing superannuation capital.

Perpetual is one of Australia’s oldest and most respected investment management firms, overseeing $219.2 billion in assets under management as at 31 March 2026 across a range of global equity and fixed income strategies.

The company is currently in the middle of a significant strategic transformation.

Perpetual announced the sale of its Wealth Management division to Bain Capital Private Equity for $500 million upfront, with a potential further $100 million based on business performance.

The transaction aims to simplify the business, substantially reduce net debt, and sharpen the company’s focus on its core asset management operations.

Following the sale, net debt to EBITDA is expected to fall to approximately 0.2 times, leaving Perpetual with a clean balance sheet and significant capacity to return capital to shareholders or reinvest in growth.

Revenue for the first half of FY2026 came in at $697.9 million, and management continues to invest in its global distribution capability as the primary growth lever for the simplified business.

Foolish takeaway

Hub24 and Perpetual both benefit from Australia’s compulsory superannuation tailwind, but in very different ways.

Hub24 captures the shift of advisers from legacy platforms to modern, technology-first alternatives, and rewards patient investors with consistent earnings growth.

Perpetual, meanwhile, is reshaping itself into a leaner, more focused asset manager with a strengthened balance sheet and renewed strategic clarity.

For long-term investors, both deserve serious consideration.

The post Why these 2 ASX superannuation stocks could quietly build serious wealth appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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• 3 high-quality ASX 200 shares for beginners to buy and hold
• 3 amazing ASX growth shares to buy in May with $20,000

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. 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 S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) bounced back yesterday after a flat few weeks. 

Australia’s benchmark index rose just over 1% during Tuesday’s trading session.

This sparked fresh 52-week highs for several well-known ASX shares. 

Here’s what experts are saying about these companies right now. 

Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS)

Telstra shares rose another 2% yesterday to hit fresh 52-week highs of $5.52 per share. 

It has now climbed 13% year to date, as investors have pushed their chips in on defensive options like Telstra. 

It is considered a defensive stock because telecommunications services are essential, so customers tend to keep paying for mobile and internet plans even during economic downturns. 

Its large market share, recurring revenue, and relatively stable dividend payments also make earnings less volatile compared with more cyclical industries like mining or retail.

Following this recent share price rise, it appears that Telstra shares are close to fully valued. 

Catapult Wealth recently placed a hold recommendation on the company. 

Additionally, 13 analyst forecasts via TradingView indicate the current share price is 5% above fair value. 

QBE Insurance Group Ltd (ASX: QBE)

QBE shares rose 3% yesterday to hit a fresh 52-week high of $24 per share. 

It has now climbed 21% year to date. 

It has been one of the beneficiaries of rising interest rates. 

QBE is Australia’s second-largest international insurer. 

Insurers can benefit from interest rate rises because they invest premiums and earn more when yields rise.

With that being said, it now appears that QBE shares are approaching fair value. 

Macquarie recently downgraded QBE shares to a hold rating with a $25.10 price target. 

This indicates just 4% upside from current levels. 

Superloop Ltd (ASX: SLC)

Superloop is an Australian telecommunications and internet infrastructure company that provides broadband and NBN services, fibre networks and enterprise connectivity. 

Yesterday, its share price climbed 1.4% to hit a new 52 week high of $3.56. 

It has now risen almost 40% year to date. 

The share price rise has been driven by positive growth for the company. 

It recently reported a 21.2% increase in customers and a 23.3% lift in revenue compared to the prior year.

Despite these positive metrics, the company appears close to full valuation right now. 

Nathan Lodge from Securities Vault recently placed a hold rating on this ASX telecommunications share.

Furthermore, eight analyst ratings via TradingView have an average 12 month price target of $3.50 on Superloop shares. 

The post Are Telstra and these ASX shares a buy, hold or sell after hitting new yearly highs? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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

Some share price falls are deserved.

A company misses expectations, the outlook weakens, or the market starts questioning whether its growth story still holds together.

But I do not think every sell-off should be treated the same way. Sometimes, good businesses fall out of favour and create a better entry point for patient investors.

Two ASX 200 shares I think could be worth a closer look after recent weakness are named in this article.

CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL)

CSL has been one of the biggest disappointments on the ASX over the past year.

The biotechnology giant has lost its premium rating following a series of underwhelming updates, guidance downgrades, and execution concerns.

There is no point pretending this is the same CSL that investors used to pay up for without hesitation. It is not. The company has work to do to rebuild trust and prove that earnings growth can become consistent again.

But I think the market may now be pricing in a very harsh outcome.

CSL still has valuable positions in plasma therapies, vaccines, and specialist medicines. Demand for many of its core products is supported by long-term healthcare needs, and the company still has a global scale that few competitors can match.

That is why I remain interested. I see CSL as more of a recovery story today than the classic compounder it used to be. But at a much lower valuation, I think that recovery potential could be meaningful for investors willing to wait.

The recovery may take time, and sentiment could remain weak for a while yet. But if CSL can stabilise earnings, improve execution, and restore confidence, I think today’s share price could look too cheap in hindsight.

James Hardie Industries plc (ASX: JHX)

James Hardie Industries is another quality ASX 200 share that has been under pressure.

The building products giant is heavily exposed to the North American housing market, where higher interest rates and weaker renovation activity have weighed on sentiment.

That cycle has been uncomfortable. When housing activity slows, demand for exterior building products can soften, and earnings expectations can come under pressure.

But I do not think the long-term case has disappeared. James Hardie still has a strong position in fibre cement building materials, particularly in the United States. Its products are used in repair, renovation, and new construction, giving the company exposure to a large market that should recover over time.

I also like the fact that this is not a business starting from scratch. James Hardie has spent years building brand recognition, distribution, manufacturing scale, and customer relationships. Those advantages do not disappear just because the housing cycle is difficult.

In my view, the current weakness could be creating an opportunity to buy a high-quality building products company while expectations are low.

If interest rates eventually ease, renovation activity improves, and housing confidence returns, James Hardie could be well placed to benefit.

Foolish Takeaway

CSL and James Hardie shares are not obvious easy wins today.

Both businesses are dealing with real challenges, and neither may recover quickly. But I think the market may be too focused on the current disappointment and not focused enough on what these companies could look like in three to five years.

For patient investors, I think both ASX 200 shares could be too cheap to ignore.

The post 2 ASX 200 shares that could be too cheap to ignore appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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• CSL shares crash, but is a comeback looming?

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

Brambles Ltd (ASX: BXB) shares have had a shocker of a week so far, plumbing new 12-month lows after the company significantly downgraded its outlook for the full year.

The question is, does that mean the shares are now going cheap, or is there more pain to come?

I’ve canvassed the views of three major brokers, and all believe there’s some upside in the share price from where Brambles shares are now, but they differ widely in their outlook.

I’ll get to their specific share price targets shortly. Firstly, let’s recap Brambles’ big announcement this week.

Major cost pressures

One of the main features of the announcement was that Brambles was having to spend more on repairing its pallets to bring them up to standard for customers who were increasingly automating their processes.

Brambles said it was progressively increasing its repair quality to meet this demand, which had contributed to creating a bottleneck.

The company said:

During April 2026, this focus on quality consistency has coincided with short-term repair capacity constraints in parts of Brambles’ US subcontractor service centre network which Brambles expects to be resolved by the end of 1H27. These short-term repair capacity constraints have been driven by subcontractor turnover, labour availability challenges and the additional time required to repair pallets consistently to a higher standard. At the same time as repair capacity tightened, Brambles experienced higher than anticipated customer demand.

Brambles said there was a “material” cost increase over the short term. The company said it was also buying another two million pallets in the fourth quarter, with more purchases expected early in FY27.

As a result of these various elements, Brambles downgraded its sales revenue growth forecast to 2% to 3%, down from 3% to 4%, and downgraded its underlying profit growth forecast to 3% to 5%, down from 8% to 11%.

Shares appear oversold

The team at Macquarie have run the ruler over the changes at Brambles and has reduced their price target on the shares from $23.35 to $18.60.

Macquarie said:

A need to invest incrementally in customer outcomes has been a concern for us. Resolving this issue presents ongoing earnings risks, especially if full mitigation requires price adjustment. We think multiples will remain pressured.

The team at Morgans came up with a similar share price target of $18.70.

They said the trading update was disappointing, while noting that Brambles’ US$400 million share buyback, also announced this week, would give the share price some support.

Morgan Stanley was an outlier among the brokers with a price target of $28 on Brambles shares.

They noted that cost headwinds should ease by the end of the first half of FY27, “though further demand spikes and subcontractor exits remain key risks”.

Brambles is valued at $23.74 billion.

The post After this week’s sell-down, is it time to buy Brambles shares? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

Investors are spoilt for choice when it comes to ASX ETFs. 

It seems like every month new options are coming onto the market. This allows investors to tap into broad based and thematic funds.

However three providers dominate the market: Vanguard, Betashares and iShares. 

As of April 2026, funds under management were: 

• Vanguard: $95.17b
• Betashares: $67.44b
• iShares: $57.79b. 

Today, the spotlight is on the best performing funds from iShares. 

This can be a great way to understand what themes, sectors, and regions have been driving returns. It can also help investors decide whether any of these ETFs deserve a place on your watch list.

iShares International Equity ETFs – iShares Msci South Korea ETF (ASX: IKO)

This ASX ETF has surged 170% in the last 12 months, making it the best performing fund from iShares in that span. 

The fund aims to provide investors with the performance of the MSCI Korea 25/50 Index.

The index is designed to measure the performance of Korean large and mid-capitalisation companies.

This ASX ETF has surged because it is heavily exposed to Korean semiconductor giants Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, which are benefiting from booming global demand for AI infrastructure and memory chips. 

Investors have also piled into Korean equities because valuations were far cheaper than US tech stocks, triggering a broad rerating of the Korean share market.

It’s no secret the ASX is thin when it comes to exposure to groundbreaking technology companies. 

This fund from iShares could be an ideal complement to add the backbone of the global memory chip/semiconductor industry to your portfolio. 

Another reason to add this fund to your portfolio would be to diversify away from Australian and US overexposure. 

iShares International Equity ETFs – iShares Asia 50 ETF (ASX: IAA)

It has been a similar story for this Asian equities focussed ASX ETF. 

The fund aims to provide investors with the performance of the S&P Asia 50 Index, before fees and expenses. The index is designed to measure the performance of 50 of the largest Asian companies domiciled in China, Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore, and Taiwan. 

It has benefited from similar tailwinds to the previously listed, Korean focussed fund. 

Over the last 12 months, these tailwinds have driven a 56% rise for this ASX ETF. 

iShares Msci Emerging Markets Ex China ETF (ASX: EMXC)

Another high performing fund has been this emerging markets themed ETF. 

This ASX ETF aims to provide investors with the performance of the MSCI Emerging Markets ex China Index, before fees and expenses. 

The index is designed to measure the equity market performance in global emerging markets, excluding China.

It has attracted investors looking for emerging markets exposure without the risks tied to China, with strong performances from India, Taiwan, and South Korea helping drive returns higher.

It is up more than 40% in the last 12 months. 

The post Here are the 3 best performing iShares ASX ETFs over the last year appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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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.

Building a $150,000 ASX portfolio can sound like a huge task.

But I think it becomes far more achievable when investors stop thinking about the full amount and start thinking about the process.

The goal is not to find one perfect share. It is to build a habit, choose quality assets, and give compounding enough time to work.

Here is how I would approach it.

Start with a simple core

The first step is to build a core holding.

For many investors, I think that could mean starting with a broad exchange-traded fund (ETF) such as the Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS), iShares S&P 500 AUD ETF (ASX: IVV), or Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF (ASX: VGS).

These ETFs can provide instant diversification across many companies, sectors, and geographies.

That is useful because beginners do not need to decide immediately whether a bank, miner, retailer, healthcare stock, or technology company will be the best performer.

They can own a broad basket and let the market do some of the work.

I would not overcomplicate this stage. A simple ETF core can give the portfolio a strong foundation while the investor keeps learning.

Add quality ASX shares over time

Once the core is in place, I would start adding individual ASX shares.

This is where investors can tilt the portfolio toward businesses they want to own for many years.

For me, the focus would be on quality. That means strong market positions, sensible balance sheets, reliable earnings, and long growth runways.

Examples could include companies such as Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES), ResMed Inc (ASX: RMD), Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG), REA Group Ltd (ASX: REA), or Goodman Group (ASX: GMG).

I would not rush to buy everything at once.

A $150,000 portfolio can be built piece by piece. Buying periodically also reduces the pressure of trying to time the market perfectly.

Some purchases will look early. Some will look well timed. Over a decade, the bigger driver is usually whether the investor kept buying quality assets and stayed invested.

Reinvest the income

Dividends can make a big difference.

At first, they may not feel very exciting. A small portfolio might only generate a few dollars or a few hundred dollars of income each year.

But reinvested dividends can help buy more shares, which can then generate more dividends in future years.

That is one reason I like ASX shares for long-term wealth building. Many Australian companies have a strong dividend culture, and reinvesting those payments can quietly add to compounding.

Let the portfolio mature

A $150,000 portfolio will not be built overnight unless someone already has a large amount of capital.

But regular investing can get the job done.

For example, investing $500 a month at an average annual return of 9% would grow to around $150,000 in just over 13 years. That return is not guaranteed, and markets will not move in a straight line.

Still, the maths shows why consistency is so powerful.

The key is to keep going through good markets and bad ones.

Foolish Takeaway

I think building a $150,000 ASX portfolio is less about doing something dramatic and more about repeating a sensible plan.

Start with a diversified core, add quality ASX shares over time, reinvest the income, and let compounding build momentum.

There will be pullbacks, bad headlines, and moments when cash feels safer. But investors who keep buying good assets through those periods give themselves a real chance of turning a modest starting point into a meaningful portfolio.

The post How to build a $150,000 ASX share portfolio from scratch appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 2 of the best ASX ETFs to buy and hold
• 4 ASX 200 shares tipped to jump another 50% to 60%
• Why Wesfarmers could be one of the best blue-chip shares to buy
• Why this fallen ASX 200 blue chip could be a strong buy
• 5 ASX shares that could bounce back in the second half of 2026

Motley Fool contributor Grace Alvino has positions in Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Goodman Group, Macquarie Group, ResMed, Wesfarmers, and iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group and ResMed. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Goodman Group, Vanguard Msci Index International Shares ETF, Wesfarmers, and iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

It’s been a red hot 2026 for ASX energy stock New Hope Corporation Ltd (ASX: NHC). 

New Hope shares climbed a further 3% yesterday, and are now up 50% over the last 12 months. 

New Hope is an Australian thermal coal miner. It has two operating mines: the 100%-owned New Acland coal mine in the Darling Downs, Queensland and its 80%-owned Bengalla coal mine in New South Wales.

Another great week 

On Monday, this ASX energy stock released a quarterly report.

It reported: 

• Group ROM coal production: 4.26Mt, up 5.0% on the previous quarter
• Saleable coal production: 3.01Mt, up 8.7% quarter-on-quarter
• Total coal sales: 3.20Mt, a 10.4% quarterly lift
• Average realised sales price: $140.7/t, up 1.2% from prior quarter
• Underlying EBITDA: $130.1 million, up 21.7% from the previous quarter
• Available cash: $571.6 million at quarter end. 

Investors have been reacting positively to these results. This ASX energy stock is up 6% across two days of trading this week. 

Bell Potter weighs in 

Following these results, the team at Bell Potter issued an updated report on this ASX energy stock. 

The broker noted FY26 revised guidance was reiterated and group production and sales are tracking towards the upper end of the ranges provided. 

Coal production was 3.0 million tonnes, above Bell Potter’s forecast of 2.7 million tonnes.

The broker also said New Hope strengthened its balance sheet through a $300 million refinancing, while noting that any diesel cost increases from Middle East tensions could potentially be offset by stronger coal prices and demand.

NHC’s diesel providers have reassured supply in the short term. Around 20% of NHC’s overall cost base is diesel price related. In the event of a prolonged Middle East conflict, diesel cost impacts could be more than offset by stronger thermal coal demand and prices as coal is substituted for disrupted LNG supply.

Based on this guidance, Bell Potter updated its assumptions for coal prices and the Australian dollar, leading to earnings forecast changes:

• FY26 earnings forecast cut by 17%
• FY27 forecast raised by 19%
• FY28 forecast raised by 12%. 

Limited upside 

Following recent share price growth, the team at Bell Potter now sees this ASX energy stock as a hold. 

The broker now has a $5 price target on New Hope shares, which indicates a 9% downside from the current share price of $5.51. 

NHC’s low-cost operations will continue to underpin margins through the coal price cycle, funding capital expenditure commitments and supporting shareholder returns. Beyond ramp-up of New Acland Stage 3, we see a limited organic production growth pipeline and believe NHC may participate in industry consolidation.

The post Why it could be time to move on from this booming ASX energy stock 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.