Category: Stock Market

Oil prices have started the week higher as tensions in the Middle East flare again.

At the time of writing, US crude oil is up 1.68% to US$84.84 a barrel, while Brent crude is 1.69% higher at US$89.79 a barrel.

The latest gains add to what has already been a strong year for oil, with both benchmarks up around 48% in 2026.

The move comes after US forces carried out their first strike on Iranian targets in weeks, putting the Strait of Hormuz back in focus.

Here’s what investors need to know.

What is pushing oil prices higher?

Another flare-up between the United States and Iran is putting the oil market back on edge.

US forces struck two Iranian launchers on Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, marking the first known American strikes on Iran since late July.

A US official said Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) forces had been preparing to launch rockets carrying sea mines into the Strait of Hormuz.

The IRGC said the attack killed and wounded several soldiers and civilians, while also warning that Tehran would respond.

US President Donald Trump said last week that mines had been cleared or removed from international waters in the strait. He also warned that any ships or boats laying new mines would be destroyed.

Why is the Strait of Hormuz important?

The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the biggest issues hanging over the oil market.

Before the current conflict, around 1/5th of global oil consumption passed through the waterway.

The war involving the US and Iran has now passed the 6-month mark, with shipping through the strait disrupted during that period.

Oil prices had actually fallen late last week as markets weighed reports of possible progress around Hormuz.

Brent fell 0.43% on Friday and WTI slipped 0.16%, leaving the benchmarks down more than 5% and 4% respectively for the week.

Oil has already had a huge year

Oil prices were already sitting on strong gains before Monday’s jump.

According to Trading Economics, US crude is up 47% so far this year and 31% over the past 12 months.

Brent crude has followed a similar path, rising 47% year to date and 31% over the past year.

There is plenty happening in the background as well, with markets also watching the Trump administration’s latest sanctions against Iran.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent last week announced “Operation Economic Outcast”, which targets Iranian entities, oil trading networks, vessels and financial links.

Reuters reported that nearly 60 entities, individuals and vessels were included in the latest round of sanctions.

What should investors watch?

The Strait of Hormuz is the big one to keep an eye on from here.

Any response from Iran, changes to shipping through the strait or further US sanctions could quickly put the oil market back in focus.

Interest rates are another factor investors will be watching. Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh recently said rates may need to rise if inflation does not move back toward the Fed’s 2% target.

The post Oil prices are jumping nearly 2%. What’s going on? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Why Liontown, Northern Star and Telstra shares are turning heads on Monday
• Why I think Xero and WiseTech shares are strong buys
• The Star Entertainment share price falls on FY26 earnings
• Is NAB a good passive income stock?
• The world’s best investor turns 96

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.

The Star Entertainment Group Ltd (ASX: SGR) share price is falling almost 4% on Monday after the company reported a net loss of $307 million for FY26 alongside a stabilisation in property revenues and signs of cash flow improvement.

What did The Star Entertainment Group report?

• Normalised revenue was $1,101 million, down 2% from FY25
• Normalised EBITDA loss before significant items improved to $16.1 million (FY25: $76.2 million loss)
• Statutory net loss after tax was $307.3 million
• Corporate costs were reduced by $75 million in FY26, with ongoing savings targeted
• Cash and cash equivalents at year-end were $267 million
• No dividend was declared for FY26

What else do investors need to know?

The Star completed a $300 million equity investment from Bally’s Corporation and Investment Holdings, and finished the first stage of the JVP Transaction which removed the company’s $700 million guarantee on DBC debt. New leadership joined the Board and executive team in December 2025, driving operational changes and cost reductions.

Revenues at operating properties stabilised in the last quarter after nearly two years of declines. Positive signs continued into July 2026, with combined revenue up 6% year-on-year as improved customer engagement and increased marketing spend began to pay off.

What did The Star Entertainment Group management say?

The company’s CEO and Managing Director, Bruce Mathieson Jnr, commented:

We have moved to a more accountable, property-led operating model and a renewed focus on performance, customers, and responsible operations… The Group has successfully refinanced its corporate debt and continued the work of strengthening its balance sheet with a strong liquidity position. These achievements have provided greater stability and a stronger foundation for the future. Returning to suitability remains critical to our future, and the work required to achieve that objective has and is being increasingly embedded in how we operate every day.

What’s next for The Star Entertainment Group?

Looking ahead, The Star is focused on regaining suitability for its casino licences in New South Wales and Queensland—a key factor for future growth and access to capital. The company expects to keep improving earnings in FY27, with ongoing cost reductions, operational changes, and a new direct attribution approach for corporate costs.

The second stage of The Star’s JVP Transaction is planned for completion by March 2027. Management remains cautious given material uncertainties around regulatory outcomes, profitability, and the restoration of casino licences, but the business expects to build cash reserves and continue its recovery.

The Star Entertainment Group share price snapshot

Compared to the S&P/ASX 200 index (ASX: XJO), The Star Entertainment Group share price has outperformed over the past year with a gain of around 13%.

View Original Announcement

The post The Star Entertainment share price falls on FY26 earnings appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why Liontown, Northern Star and Telstra shares are turning heads on Monday
• Why I think Xero and WiseTech shares are strong buys
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• The world’s best investor turns 96

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. 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.

National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) has long been a popular choice among Australian income investors.

With a large banking franchise, fully franked dividends, and a solid earnings outlook, I think there is still plenty to like for investors seeking passive income.

Here is why.

The dividend looks attractive

NAB shares are currently trading around $38.29.

According to CommSec, consensus forecasts point to fully franked dividends per share of $1.70 in FY26 and $1.72 in FY27.

At today’s share price, that represents a forward dividend yield of around 4.4% in FY26, rising slightly to 4.5% in FY27 before franking credits.

I think that is a solid level of income from one of Australia’s largest banks.

The expected growth in the dividend is modest, but I would rather see a payment that looks well supported than rely on an unusually high yield that could prove difficult to maintain.

Earnings should provide support

The outlook for profits gives me further confidence.

Consensus estimates are for NAB to generate earnings per share of $2.38 in FY26 and $2.54 in FY27.

That would represent earnings growth of around 7% in FY27 while the dividend is forecast to rise only slightly.

If those forecasts prove accurate, NAB would be retaining a greater proportion of its earnings rather than needing all of the growth to fund higher distributions.

I think that leaves the bank in a sensible position to continue rewarding shareholders while maintaining capital for the business.

Of course, bank earnings can be affected by bad debts, competition, interest rates, and economic conditions. Dividends are never guaranteed.

But the current forecasts give me confidence that NAB’s income outlook remains healthy.

I like the business behind the dividend

For me, a passive income investment still needs a business I would be comfortable owning.

One of NAB’s biggest strengths is its position in Australian business banking.

Companies need loans, transaction accounts, deposits, payments, and other financial services as they operate and expand. These relationships can become increasingly valuable as successful customers grow.

NAB also has a substantial personal banking franchise, giving it exposure to millions of households alongside its position with Australian businesses.

I think that combination gives the bank several sources of earnings to support future shareholder returns.

Foolish takeaway

I believe NAB is a good passive income stock at around $38.29.

A forecast yield of roughly 4.5%, full franking, and expected earnings growth make the income outlook attractive to me.

There will always be risks with owning a bank, but I think NAB has a strong enough underlying business to make it a worthwhile option for investors hoping to generate regular income from ASX shares.

The post Is NAB a good passive income stock? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Grace Alvino has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has 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.

Warren Buffett turns 96 today.

Many of us have referred to him affectionately as “Uncle Warren” for years. Not because we’re related, sadly (though I continue to hope that Ancestry.com uncovers an as-yet unknown branch of the Phillips/Buffett family tree!) but because he’s probably the closest thing the investing world has to that wise older relative who has been around forever, has seen pretty much everything, and usually has something sensible to say.

(Before you write in, yes his birthday is August 30… but that’s ‘today’ in the US, where he lives!)

Yep, I’m an unabashed Buffett fan.

Not because he’s perfect. He isn’t. Buffett has made plenty of mistakes, and has spent a fair chunk of his annual letters telling us about them.

But if you were going to choose someone from whom to learn about investing, his record is pretty hard – essentially impossible – to beat.

So, on his birthday, let’s do that.

When Buffett took control of Berkshire Hathaway (I own – B class – shares, for the record) in 1965, it was a struggling textile company. What followed was one of the great business and investment stories of all time.

And the numbers are almost silly.

Berkshire compounded at roughly 20% a year for decades. The US sharemarket itself did very well over that time, but Berkshire did much, much better.

The difference between 10% and 20% in any one year doesn’t look life-changing.

Give it a few decades, though, and you get a very different answer.

Which, actually, is probably the first Buffett lesson: compounding needs time.

People spend an enormous amount of effort wondering what the sharemarket will do tomorrow, next month or next year. Buffett built his fortune largely by finding good places to put money and then giving them a very long time to work.

One of my favourite Buffett lines is:

“Price is what you pay. Value is what you get.”

Learning the difference between those two ideas is vital for investors.

A share price is just the price at which a buyer and seller happen to agree to transact today. It isn’t necessarily what the company is worth.

Often the two are reasonably close. Sometimes they’re miles apart.

And yet we tend to let the price tell us how we should feel about the investment.

A share price rises 30% and suddenly we’re more confident about the company. It falls 30% and we start wondering what we got wrong. (You’re nodding along, aren’t you?)

Maybe something really has changed. Often, though, it hasn’t. It’s just the market being its usual emotional, short-term, self.

Buffett has always encouraged investors to turn that thinking around: work out what you think the business is worth, then decide whether the price makes sense.

Which leads to another Buffett favourite:

“Be fearful when others are greedy and greedy when others are fearful.”

That… doesn’t mean it’s easy.

Being greedy when others are fearful sounds terrific when you’re sitting comfortably at home and the market is behaving itself. It looks even better in hindsight, when you fantasise about buying those shares during the last crash.

It’s harder when shares have fallen 30%, the headlines are full of doom and gloom, economists are predicting recessions, and your brain is telling you that perhaps you should wait until things become clearer.

They will become clearer, of course.

Thing is, shares will probably also be more expensive by then.

You don’t get bargain prices and blue-sky headlines.

Buffett also changed as an investor, which I think is an underappreciated part of his story.

His early investing was heavily influenced by Benjamin Graham: buy something very cheap, ideally for less than the value of its assets, and wait.

It worked.

But the late, great, Charlie Munger helped persuade Buffett that there was another way.

As Buffett later put it, “It’s far better to buy a wonderful company at a fair price than a fair company at a wonderful price.”

That shift helped produce investments such as Coca-Cola and American Express and, eventually, the purchase of entire high-quality businesses.

It’s also a useful reminder that even Warren Buffett had to get better at investing.

He changed his mind.

He learned.

He incorporated better ideas when he found them.

Which brings me to another Buffett idea more investors should take seriously: the circle of competence.

You don’t have to have a view on everything.

In fact, you really shouldn’t.

There are businesses I don’t understand well enough to value with any confidence. There are industries whose futures are too uncertain. And there are plenty of things I might understand reasonably well but where I have no particular insight that the market doesn’t already have.

That’s okay.

To use a baseball metaphor that Buffett has invoked, as an investor you get to choose which pitch you swing at.

There are thousands of listed companies. You don’t need to own all of them. You don’t need to understand all of them. You certainly don’t need to have an opinion on all of them.

And Buffett’s preferred holding period?

“Forever.”

Yes, he’s sold shares, so don’t take that absolutely literally.

The point is that when you buy shares in a company, you should be thinking about the business you’re becoming a part-owner of, not who might pay you more for the shares next week.

In fact, that’s the thread that runs through most of Buffett’s best advice.

Shares are businesses.

Price and value aren’t the same thing.

Time is your friend.

Temperament matters hugely.

You don’t have to swing at every pitch.

And avoiding stupidity can be every bit as valuable as trying to be brilliant.

None of those ideas is particularly complicated.

Maybe that’s why people keep looking for something more sophisticated.

But Buffett has spent more than 60 years showing what can happen when some fairly straightforward principles are applied with extraordinary discipline.

No, you won’t make 20% annual returns. Me either. There is only one Warren Buffett.

But I reckon we’d all be better investors if we borrowed a little more of his patience, rationality, humility and willingness to think like a business owner.

It’s Buffett’s birthday, but we get his lifetime of wisdom as our present.

Happy 96th birthday, Uncle Warren.

Fool on!

The post The world’s best investor turns 96 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why Liontown, Northern Star and Telstra shares are turning heads on Monday
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• Oil prices are jumping nearly 2%. What’s going on?
• The Star Entertainment share price falls on FY26 earnings
• Is NAB a good passive income stock?

American Express is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Motley Fool contributor Scott Phillips has positions in Berkshire Hathaway. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended American Express and Berkshire Hathaway. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Berkshire Hathaway. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The Qualitas Real Estate Income Fund (ASX: QRI) share price is in focus after the fund announced a monthly distribution of 1.0668 cents per unit for August 2026, with payment due on 15 September.

What did Qualitas Real Estate Income Fund report?

• Monthly distribution: 1.0668 cents per unit (unfranked)
• Ex-distribution date: 3 September 2026
• Record date: 4 September 2026
• Payment date: 15 September 2026
• Distribution relates to period ended 31 August 2026
• Dividend Reinvestment Plan (DRP) available; election deadline 7 September 2026

What else do investors need to know?

The August distribution from Qualitas Real Estate Income Fund is unfranked, with the entire payment declared as unfranked income. Unit holders can opt to reinvest their distribution via the DRP, with no discount applied to the reinvestment price.

The DRP price will be determined as the lesser of the most recent published weekly NTA prior to the record date or the average price of DRP acquisitions during the Board’s set period. If investors do not make a DRP election by 7 September, they will receive their distribution as a cash payment.

What’s next for Qualitas Real Estate Income Fund?

Looking ahead, the fund continues its approach of monthly income distributions aimed at delivering regular returns to its unit holders. Qualitas Real Estate Income Fund’s strategy focuses on real estate-backed investments, supporting steady income while navigating changes in property and credit markets.

Investors should keep watch for future monthly distribution announcements, as well as potential updates to the DRP or investment mandate as market conditions evolve.

Qualitas Real Estate Income Fund share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Qualitas Real Estate Income Fund shares have declined 6%, trailing the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XJO), which has risen 1% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Qualitas Real Estate Income Fund declares August 2026 distribution 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.

There are certain ASX shares that could be excellent investments for the decade ahead, so why not benefit from the power of compounding?

I think that the businesses which can grow the most over the next 10 years could be the best investments today, even if they don’t seem cheap.

I believe the following two investments could be excellent buys today.

L1 Group Ltd (ASX: L1G)

L1 Group is a fund manager that offers clients exposure to a number of pleasing investment strategies including its long short strategy, a global long short strategy, a gold strategy and a few others.

There are a few important drivers of a fund management business, including solid fund performance and long-term growth of funds under management (FUM), since that’s what generates the revenue.

In FY26, the company reported FUM growth of around 17% to $19.1 billion. Revenue rose 49% while expenses declined around 15%, leading to strong positive operating leverage. Underlying net profit grew 97% to $188.8 million.

Following its merger/takeover of Platinum, it has achieved cost synergies of $31.7 million, with the cost target increased from $35 million to $43 million.

There are a number of other growth avenues for the business, including two extension strategies, a new PXC Advisors joint venture, offshore distribution build-out in North America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa. L1 has also confirmed an Australian small caps strategy.

Overall, the outlook for the ASX share seems very positive for the business in the long-term and I think the differentiated strategies with great performance is a promising future.

VanEck MSCI International Quality ETF (ASX: QUAL)

Another investment that I’m bullish about for the long-term is this exchange-traded fund (ETF) which aims to buy high-quality global shares.

There are three factors that a business must rank highly on to be potentially included in this ETF’s holdings.

First, companies must have a high return on equity (ROE). That means the business makes a lot of profit for how much shareholder money is still retained within the business. Plus, it could be a good indicator of how much profit the business could make on additional retained earnings in the future.

Second, businesses must have earnings stability. That should mean there is less chance of their earnings going down, which could suggest stronger performance during economically weak times. If earnings are regularly going up, that’s a good sign for capital growth.

Third, the QUAL ETF holdings must have low debt levels, which is a pleasing sign of the company’s balance sheet strength.

When you put those elements together, it’s not surprising that the QUAL ETF has returned an average of 15% per year over the last decade. I think it could be a very solid performer over the next decade as well.

The post 2 top ASX shares to buy and hold for the next decade appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in L1 Group and VanEck Msci International Quality ETF. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The Kina Securities Ltd (ASX: KSL) share price made moves today after the company posted a 4% lift in net profit after tax (NPAT) for the first half of 2026, along with a 13% increase in its interim dividend in PGK terms.

What did Kina Securities report?

• Statutory NPAT rose 4% year on year to PGK59.7 million
• Revenue increased 2% to PGK254.8 million
• Net interest income grew 5% to PGK119.3 million
• Interim dividend up 13% in PGK at 14.2 toea (AUD 4.5 cents, stable year on year)
• Capital adequacy ratio strengthened to 26.0% (+870 bps), boosted by PNG’s first listed corporate bond
• Operating costs rose 7% to PGK159.6 million
• Non-interest income represented 53% of total revenue, declining slightly by 2%

What else do investors need to know?

Kina Securities made history this half by issuing PNG’s first listed corporate bond, raising PGK235 million. This has significantly fortified its capital position and supports the group’s long-term growth ambitions as outlined in its 2030 Strategy.

The group continued to invest in its digital capabilities, launching the Pei Beta digital wallet for retail customers and a new Corporate Online Banking platform for businesses. While loan book growth was deliberately slowed as part of balance sheet optimisation, management remains confident in a robust lending pipeline for the second half.

Macroeconomic headwinds such as a weaker kina and lower government yields put pressure on costs and margins. In addition, revenue in payment acquiring was temporarily affected by interoperability issues between a major PNG bank and new debit cards. Industry-wide fixes are expected to restore balance by the end of the year.

What did Kina Securities management say?

CEO Ivan Vidovich commented:

Our first half 2026 results reflect a resilient performance despite the anticipated macroeconomic headwinds. Earnings were also affected by the debit card interoperability matter involving a major PNG bank, which altered the competitive landscape in payments acquiring channels, reduced customer choice and constrained transaction-related revenue growth. The issuance of KSL’s PGK235 million Tier 2 Bond, the first listed corporate bond in PNG, materially strengthened our capital position and balance sheet capacity and represents an important early milestone in the delivery of the 2030 strategy… We entered the second half with positive momentum, and expect earnings to increase during the remainder of 2026.

What’s next for Kina Securities?

The company is focused on driving organic growth in the second half of the year, aiming to accelerate loan growth while carefully managing external challenges. Improved foreign exchange activity and a strengthened balance sheet are expected to underpin earnings for the rest of 2026.

Kina Securities also plans ongoing investment in technology and capabilities under its 2030 Strategy, maintaining a disciplined approach to risk and capital management for long-term shareholder value.

Kina Securities share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Kina Securities shares have declined 8%, trailing the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO), which has risen 1% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Kina Securities lifts profit and dividend in half-year 2026 earnings 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.

Some of the best places to find passive income in Australia are ASX dividend shares, in my view.

What’s better than a combination of a good dividend yield and potential capital gains?

Of course, neither dividends nor capital growth is guaranteed. That’s why I prefer to look at undervalued stocks with a good outlook for payout growth in the coming years.

Let’s look at two ASX dividend shares that have a dividend yield of at least 6%.

Dexus Industria REIT (ASX: DXI)

The first business I want to highlight is the real estate investment trust (REIT) Dexus Industria REIT. It owns a portfolio of industrial properties across Australian cities, predominantly in key metropolitan locations.

Industrial properties are a compelling place to invest because the rental income is benefiting from multiple tailwinds.

For example, there is long-term growth of e-commerce usage, which requires warehouses. Data centre demand is another driver of rental value of industrial land. Demand for refrigerated space is also growing for both food and medicine. And so on.  

In FY26, the ASX dividend share reported strong like-for-like portfolio income growth of 5.3%, supported by rental escalations, strong releasing spreads (new rental contracts earning more than the old one), and high occupancy of 98.8%.

Despite high interest rates, Dexus Industria REIT expects to maintain its FY27 distribution at 16.6 cents per security. That translates into a forward distribution yield of 7%.

Universal Store Holdings Ltd (ASX: UNI)

The Universal Store company has multiple businesses under its umbrella – Universal Store, Perfect Stranger, and CTC (with the THRILLS and Worship brands). It sells youth casual fashion apparel.

Its FY26 result impressed, given the difficult operating environment, with 12.9% sales growth to $376.1 million and 16.3% underlying net profit growth to $40.5 million. This allowed the business to hike its annual dividend per share by 11.7% to 43 cents.

The ASX dividend share is delivering sales growth from both an expanding store network and impressive like-for-like (LFL) growth at its existing stores. The Universal store business generated 8.1% LFL growth, and Perfect Stranger achieved 13% LFL growth.

In the first seven weeks of FY27, the company saw direct-to-consumer sales rise by another 9.1% year over year. Management intends to open another 16 to 20 stores across the business in FY27, which can help grow its sales and margins further.

Based on the FY26 annual dividend payout of 43 cents per share, the business has a trailing grossed-up dividend yield of 7.6%, including franking credits, at the time of writing. I expect the ASX dividend share’s payout will grow again in the 2027 financial year.

The post 2 ASX dividend shares with yields above 7% 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 no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Universal Store. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The IperionX Ltd (ASX: IPX) share price is in focus after announcing a second major U.S. Army contract for industrial-scale titanium production, with US$11.5 million in new funding now in place and a total potential value up to US$25.4 million.

What did IperionX report?

• Secured US$11.5 million funding under Task Order 2 as part of a US$99 million U.S. Army SBIR Phase III contract
• Task Order 2 could increase to a maximum value of US$25.4 million if all options are exercised
• Three core work packages now fully funded, including continuous furnace and in-house fastener equipment
• Advancement of continuous powder-to-part titanium manufacturing at IperionX’s Virginia facility
• Potential program expansion into aerospace and refractory metal components via four unfunded option packages

What else do investors need to know?

Task Order 2 will help IperionX bring critical titanium manufacturing steps in-house, aiming to boost throughput and lower production costs for U.S. defense applications. The newly announced industrial-scale equipment supports both defense and potential commercial programs, by enabling the company to deliver large quantities of titanium parts, like track pins and fasteners, for military applications.

Four optional workstreams in the contract could see IperionX’s technology expand into aerospace-grade titanium, advanced powder production for additive manufacturing, and strategic metals including C103 and niobium. These options remain subject to further U.S. government funding and formal approvals.

What did IperionX management say?

Taso Arima, IperionX CEO, commented:

This second U.S. Army task order represents an important step in scaling IperionX’s titanium powder-to-part manufacturing platform. The SBIR Phase III award aims to advance continuous and industrial-scale HSPT and dehydride capacity and bring titanium fastener finishing fully in-house at our Virginia titanium manufacturing facility.

This award aligns with GenX, our next-generation continuous HAMR production platform, which together will provide an integrated American titanium manufacturing system. The program will expand our capacity to manufacture titanium track pins, bolts and fasteners for the U.S. Army, shorten production lead times and strengthen the domestic titanium manufacturing capabilities required to support U.S. defense supply chains.

What’s next for IperionX Ltd?

IperionX plans to fast-track installation of new furnace and finishing equipment at its Virginia site, supporting higher-volume manufacturing and shorter delivery times for U.S. Army requirements. The additional, unfunded program options suggest possible future expansions into aerospace, advanced alloys, and other strategic markets, but depend on further contract and customer milestones.

A focus on integrating continuous manufacturing across both titanium powder and finished parts is central to the company’s strategy, as this can lower costs and improve reliability for customers in the defense sector and beyond.

IperionX Ltd share price snapshot

It has been a difficult 12 months for the IperionX share price. Over the period, the company’s shares have significantly underperformed the S&P/ASX 200 index (ASX: XJO) with a 55% decline.

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The post IperionX wins US Army contract to ramp up titanium production 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. 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.

The Tamboran Resources Ltd (ASX: TBN) share price is in focus as the company reports its first gas sales from the Shenandoah South Pilot Project, with a strengthened balance sheet and major milestones achieved over the past year.

What did Tamboran Resources report?

• First gas sales from the Shenandoah South Pilot Project to the Northern Territory Government imminent in 3Q 2026
• Pro forma cash balance of US$298 million as at March 31, 2026
• Completed acquisition of Falcon Oil & Gas
• Secured infrastructure debt, partly backed by the NT Government
• Record well performance and on-time, under-budget construction of Sturt Plateau Compression Facility (SPCF)

What else do investors need to know?

Tamboran has solidified its position as the largest Beetaloo Basin acreage holder, with 2.8 million net prospective acres and active partnerships with major US drilling and oilfield service providers. Over the past 12 months, the company delivered key strategic and operational milestones, including a US$300 million capital raise and completion of critical infrastructure.

Safety and environmental performance also featured strongly, with zero serious injuries and no reportable environmental incidents. Locally, Tamboran has increased engagement with Northern Territory communities, spending over $36 million with NT businesses and supporting Indigenous suppliers.

What did Tamboran Resources management say?

Chief Executive Officer Todd Abbott said:

Twelve months ago, we set out to reach first gas in the Beetaloo Basin, and we are now delivering on that objective. Our team’s performance and partnerships have positioned Tamboran to unlock this world-class resource for the region and our shareholders.

What’s next for Tamboran Resources?

Looking ahead, Tamboran plans to expand capacity at the SPCF up to 100 TJ/d by mid-2028 and continue appraisal drilling in both the East and West Beetaloo depocenters. The company is also progressing new pipeline and joint venture opportunities aimed at connecting its gas to both domestic markets and potential LNG export facilities.

Further targets include cost reductions in drilling and completions, additional resource delineation, and participation in strategic infrastructure projects like the Territory Energy Link.

Tamboran Resources share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Tamboran Resources shares have risen 47%, outperforming the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO).

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The post Tamboran Resources achieves first gas sales and robust cash position 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.